'A Sweet Place to Play' — Lollipop Play Lounge Opens

A “sweet” new place for kids to play has opened its doors in downtown Wyandotte. Two mothers of young children, Nina Bittas, of Grosse Pointe, and Erica Regan, of Dearborn, designed the Lollipop Play Lounge for little ones infant to 6 years.

“We have a perfect job. We never leave home without our kids,” Bittas said.

The new business, which has a candy theme, is for boys, girls and their moms and dads, Bittas said. It’s a clean, safe, family-friendly place where adults can watch or interact with their children as the youngsters explore the different areas of the Lollipop Play Lounge. Participants should bring socks to wear in the play areas, or these are available for purchase at the Lollipop Play Lounge.

There are colorful areas for imaginative play, for children to develop social and emotional, gross and fine motor and cognitive skills. Play areas include Home Sweet Home, the Bubble Gum Bakery, Gum Drop Grocery (play food, a cash register and carts); and Dippin Dot Disco (disco ball, music). And there is the Home Depot where kids can build with toy tools, play at the Train Station, or move little cars and trucks around.

For babies, there is the Infant Arena where they can crawl around and interact with each other.

Parents are responsible for their children’s safety and wellbeing while they are playing, she added. They can enjoy coffee or tea and watch their children from a seating area; or go into the play areas with them.

Healthy snacks and beverages are available for purchase for children and adults. In addition, a shopping boutique features costume jewelry for little girls, and scarves, purses, jewelry and other accessories for their mothers.

Bittas and Regan decided to open the Lollipop Play Lounge as a place they could bring their own children. Bittas’ son, Yianni, is a little young to play at 2 months old, but Regan’s daughter, Brooke, 14 months, loves it, Bittas said.

“My partner’s daughter loves coming to work with her,” she said. “She actually gets mad when she has to leave.”

Both business partners have early childhood experience. Bittas has a degree in the field, and Regan is a nurse at Children’s Hospital. They also watched their young relatives at play, and listened to what other moms said, as they decided what to include in the Lollipop Lounge, Bittas said.

“You can have a business and a family,” she said. “We’re excited.”

The building, at 109 Maple St. in Wyandotte, has been remodeled, and an artist has painted murals on the walls.

In addition to regular business hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday), reservations can be made for children’s parties. These take place in the evenings or on weekends, Bittas said. Lollipop Play Lounge is offering a special, and children’s birthday parties that are reserved by the end of this year are 15 percent off, even if the birthday party is in 2013.

There are daily specials during the week, such as Mommy Monday, when mothers can receive a complimentary coffee or tea and 15 percent off items in the boutique.

Another special is eight visits for $40 plus tax. These don’t expire, she said. Unlimited play for a one-month period is $50 plus tax; it expires in 30 days.

And moms can host a Moms’ Night Out jewelry party for their friends and family at Lollipop Play Lounge’s boutique. It’s a fun night without the kids, Bittas said. Moms who host a party there receive 10 percent of the value of the sales made, back in merchandise. So, if $1,000 in jewelry was sold during the party, the hostess would receive $100 in merchandise, she said.

For children’s parties and Moms’ Night Out, all one needs to bring is “you and the dessert,” Bittas said. Lollipop Play Lounge will provide the pizza and beverages, and a balloon bouquet for a child’s birthday.

“Leave the mess and the stress to us,” she said.

Lollipop Play Lounge can be reached at (734) 556-3212, its website or on Facebook.