After her childhood plan of becoming a school teacher didn’t turn out the way she thought it would, Ashley Domenick is pursuing a new dream of opening a play cafe.
The Busy Berry Play Cafe is scheduled to open Jan. 19 at the Richland Mall in Richland, near Emiliano’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar.
Aimed at children from 6 months to 8 years old, the cafe’s play areas include a grocery store, a construction zone, a veterinary hospital and a schoolhouse. There’s a gated area for the youngest children, from 6 months to a year old.
And while the kids are playing, there will be coffee, baked goods and other treats for their parents to enjoy.
“It’s important that parents know this isn’t a day care. This isn’t you dropping your kids off and we watch them. The parents need to be here with them,” Domenick said. “We encourage playing with your child and making memories with your kids.”
Domenick, 27, of Cranberry grew up in Belle Vernon, graduating from high school in 2017. She earned a degree in early childhood education with a minor in special education in 2021 at Westminster College, where she met her future husband, Brandon, a managing member of a financial firm, Capital A Wealth Management, in Cranberry. They married in June 2024.
Domenick worked in schools for four years, including two stints as a substitute teacher. She was a fifth grade learning support teacher at the Riverside School District in Beaver County for two years, the job she resigned from in July to pursue running her own business.
“My life plan was always to become a teacher. Since I was a little girl, that’s what it was. Teaching was always my passion because I love helping kids,” she said. “I felt like something was missing. I kind of came home every day and I was tired, I was miserable and it wasn’t filling my cup like it once did.
“It was always my dream to open up my own business, and having my husband running his own business — he’s helped me with a lot of the business side of things. He helped make this dream become a reality.”
Brandon said he was surprised when Ashley first told him she wanted to leave teaching to become a business owner.
“Her greatest passion is helping kids. It’s nice to see her follow her passion and do it in a way where she’s going to feel fulfilled in her life,” he said. “She can really connect with the kids on a deeper level and provide resources to them that might really help them out at a young age. I’m definitely excited for her. I know she’s going to make it work.”
While she was leaving teaching, Domenick didn’t want to leave kids.
“I love kids and I wanted to create a space where kids could learn while they’re playing,” she said. “I saw and I understand the importance of learning through play.”
Domenick saw that indoor playgrounds and play cafes are popular in other areas, notably in the South. Many closed because of the pandemic.
“I felt like a play cafe was perfect for me. I love coffee and I love kids. Combining those two into a space was important to me and it was interesting and it piqued my interest,” she said. “I wanted to bring it to the Pittsburgh area.”
The name, “Busy Berry,” came from her original plan to locate in Cranberry, which didn’t work out.
“The weather in Pittsburgh isn’t good for most of the year, so parents are looking for things to do with their kids,” Domenick said. “I think we’re also in an age now where parents want to give their children experiences and they want to take their kids to places where they can learn and interact with other kids their age.
“I’m not a parent yet. I do see how parents also want to get out of the house and they want to meet other parents that are in the same life frame that they are in. People can come here with organized play dates, sit and have coffee while they watch their kids play and interact with other parents.”
Two, two-hour play sessions are offered weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m., with one on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost is $17 for one child, $13 for a second and then $10 for each child after two.
A monthly membership for unlimited play will cost $50 per month.
As many as 25 children can be accommodated per session. While walk-ins will be accepted if space is available, Domenick encourages parents to book ahead on her website at busyberryplaycafe.com.
The cafe can be booked for birthday parties on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Through partnerships, Domenick can provide pizza, cupcakes, balloon decorations and costumed characters.
Those without children will be able to patronize the cafe but will be encouraged not to sit and stay, Domenick said.
She plans to host classes, such as a four-week “mommy and me” music class beginning in February, along with story time sessions, enrichment classes and days for children with autism and disabilities.
“I want to bring my teaching background into a place like this to set myself apart from just being a play room,” Domenick said.
Domenick will be running the play cafe herself. She plans to eventually hire employees and reach out to area colleges looking for education majors like she had once been.
“I know how important it was when I was in school looking for a job that looked good on my resume where I was around kids,” she said. “I would like to do something like that.”
About Busy Berry Play Cafe
Opening: Monday, Jan. 19
Address: Richland Mall, 5375 William Flinn Highway, Suite 600, Richland
Hours: 9 to 11 a.m., noon to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays; private parties Saturday and Sunday afternoons
Website: busyberryplaycafe.com