Sunrise Play Café is preparing to welcome families back Saturday, October 17, ending a shutdown that interrupted its first year in Tacoma’s Stadium District. The business at 204 St. Helens Ave. now confirms the reopening on its website and is accepting bookings again. Owners Jordan Zenisek and Susan Saccone are marking the return with an open house from 9 AM–3 PM, featuring local businesses, community groups and activities for children and grown-ups.
The closure began July 21, when a major water leak from a neighboring business flooded the café, according to Becca Most’s reporting for The News Tribune. Water damaged the play equipment, walls and flooring, and the owners faced concerns about mold and mildew in the play structure’s wood and soft materials. Repairs required pulling out damaged components, replacing parts of the interior and thoroughly cleaning the space before families could return.
The café was created by two moms who wanted somewhere young children could play while caregivers enjoyed coffee, food and time with other adults. Its custom 1,400-square-foot playscape includes slides, climbing areas and imaginative play settings such as a fire station, hospital and little kitchen. Designed primarily for children ages 0–6, Sunrise combines those activities with café seating, making it a place for parents and grandparents to spend time alongside the kids.
The reopening also brings changes to how families use the space. Sunrise has introduced separate booking options for reserved play dates, members and limited walk-in spaces, along with revised memberships that cover multiple children. Reservations are encouraged for the open house because play-area capacity is limited, although the café says there will be activities outside the Play Plaza as well. Birthday parties return in November, and a Halloween Costume Swap & Shop follows the reopening on Sunday, October 18.
For the owners, reaching this weekend has meant rebuilding a young business while coping with canceled celebrations, lost inventory and an extended interruption to their income. Their current announcements offer families a practical way to return; The News Tribune’s reporting explains the personal and financial strain behind that comeback. For the repair bill, the equipment they expected to last 15 years and the owners’ account of what it took to keep going, read Becca Most’s full story in The News Tribune here.
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