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Unique children's play space coming to Historic Judson Mill District
March 16, 2023The Warehouse at Judson Mill is now 100% leased
Greenville, South Carolina – March 15, 2023 – Play Café at Judson Mill, Greenville’s brand-new indoor play concept representing a unique experience exclusively for children, is pleased to announce its opening in late summer in the historic Judson Mill District. Friends and businessmen Austin Motes and Daniel Kingsbury are bringing the concept to the Upstate after realizing the market needed something better.
Occupying 17,000 square feet of “The Warehouse” at Judson Mill District, Play Café at Judson Mill features two large play structures, one for children ages two to six and the other for children up to 12 years old. Parents can rent one of eight party rooms for birthdays or other celebrations and relax in the café while their children play.
Play Café at Judson Mill founder Austin Motes’s idea emerged while attending a birthday party for one of his children’s friends. A chaotic scene of uninspiring toys and concerned parents prompted him to send a text message to Kingsbury, saying “We could do this better.”
“We’re so excited to bring Play Café at Judson Mill to Greenville,” Motes said. “Like any other parent, my number one concern for my children is safety. But there are so many things you can do structurally to create a safe and exciting environment for kids to just be kids, and to give parents the opportunity to relax and enjoy the peace of mind that their kids are safely having fun.”
Ken Reiter, president of Belmont Sayre and co-developer of the Judson Mill District, describes Play Café at Judson Mill as a strong addition to the community. “Experiential and family entertainment are key market drivers across the Southeast,” Reiter said. “We were looking for a strong concept to round out the community offerings at Judson Mill, and Play Café at Judson Mill is the perfect fit.”
Play Café at Judson Mill’s lease completes The Warehouse at Judson Mill District. Senior Avison Young Associates James McKay and Rakan Draz, along with Associate Macy Scoggins, represented Judson Mill and are the exclusive listing agents for the mixed-use development. Anthony Gallo of The Gallo Company represented the Play Café team throughout the leasing process.
“We were strategically looking to build out a tenant mix that serves the community and couldn’t be more excited that The Warehouse is now fully leased,” McKay said. “Austin and Daniel were looking for the best combination of location and flexibility, and their unique business concept made the partnership a win-win.”
Project management and property management teams from Avison Young are also an integral part of the project. Led by Senior Project Manager Lee Shain, the 107,000-square-foot warehouse received full renovation and rehabilitation of the existing building, including HVAC and electrical infrastructure, ATT fiber service. New landscaped parking lots with direct access to retail, climbing gym, and live music venue were also completed.
Judson Mill District is a sustainable and vibrant mixed-use community offering soulful city living in Greenville, SC. Once the largest textile mill in Greenville County and an integral part of Greenville’s Mill Crescent wrapping the city’s west side, Judson Mill District is now home to office, restaurant, brewery, retail, entertainment, and residential spaces. In 2017, Taft Family Ventures, a distinguished real estate investment and development firm based in Greenville, NC, joined with Belmont Sayre, a privately held real estate investment and development company based in Chapel Hill, NC, to transform the historic 800,000-square-foot textile mill that closed in 2015. While maintaining its vision to preserve the soul, spirit, and features of the historic mill, Judson Mill District utilizes a sustainable approach in revitalizing its 36-acre campus, which now fosters a vibrant and affordable community where people live, work, and play. For more information on Judson Mill District, visit https://judsonmilldistrict.com.
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