From the Update Mailbox

Here’s a note to you from Cathy Kromer…

I have been living and raising my family here in Friday Harbor for the past ten years. Recently, I decided to open a business and I am looking for approximately 2,000 sq ft of commercial rental property in downtown Friday Harbor. Although my new business doesn’t need to be right on Spring Street, it is necessary for there to be some tourist foot traffic in the summer. If you know of any space that is currently available or that might be coming available in the near future, please read on and I’ll explain my rather unique business circumstances.

I will be opening an indoor playplace for kids, geared for ages one to nine. This will not be a Chucky Cheese or a McDonald’s type playplace, but rather a more quiet, active, creative and social place to play, similar to the large children’s museums you see in bigger cities, but on a smaller scale. I would be open everyday during the summer months and several days a week during the rest of the year for our local kids. This is not a “drop off” center…I will not be running a daycare. Like the children’s museums on the mainland, there will be an admission charge and parents will stay with their children, taking part in the play if they wish or letting their child socialize and play with others. There will be no electronic toys, no computers, no flashing lights and noisy machines. Rather, we will create “make believe” play areas, such as a large wooden boat to captain, a kids’ campground for exploring, a soft toddler corner for crawling and climbing, a Lego area, a sand table, and much more. I plan to make the space available to rent for birthday parties, in addition to reaching out to the Family Resource Center and other community organizations so that the playplace can be enjoyed by all of our island children.

The business, A Place to Play, will be more of a labor of love than a money making proposition. My husband, Todd and I are willing to personally guarantee a lease agreement on a property and are hoping to acquire a three year lease, with an option to extend.

So, in a nutshell, I am looking for 2,000 sq ft, first floor if possible, restrooms available, a little noise tolerant, some tourist foot traffic and car traffic. In order to give the business a chance at profitability, I’m hoping to pay not much more than $1.00 a square foot for the first few years. I am willing to pay a higher rent down the road if the business is successful.

Please let me know if you can think of anything out there that might work for my situation, I am open to ideas. We are prepared to pay for our own tenant finish which easily could include the removal walls to create the square footage. We don’t necessarily need the 2,000 sq ft in one large open space or even on the same floor. A building with large and small rooms might work as well, allowing different spaces for specific play areas.

Thanks for your time and consideration,
Cathy Kromer
370-5315
[email protected]

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.