Living
Inside Philly’s Cool New Family Club: Kith + Kin
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by Photography by Tammy Bradshaw Photography
Feb 24, 2020
We think it’s fair to say: it’s a pretty cool time to be a parent. Whereas our parents were pretty much relegated to playgrounds and baby-and-me classes at the Y, today’s moms and dads have a plethora of cool family hangouts popping up from L.A. to New York. The latest one we are smitten with is Kith + Kin, Philadelphia’s new colorful, modern play space and parent social hub that emphasizes accessibility for all. We caught up with its founders (both new mamas themselves), Jess Jones and Eden Coffrey, to take a tour of the space and find out why local families are flocking here.
We spot a trend—check out our stories on other high-design hangouts created with families in mind, such The Wonder, The Little Wing, Maison, and Big & Tiny.
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JESS: "Our boys are 10 months apart so we quickly connected over the intensity of becoming new mothers. Neither of us were super comfortable yet talking out loud about postpartum depression or the loneliness and isolation we were feeling. But as time went by and our bond grew stronger, we started to open up to each other about it. And then it was all over. The secret that not many people know about Kith + Kin is that it was created for the parents, not the kids. We wanted to create a space that not only children could enjoy but parents, caregivers, friends and family, too. Hence the name Kith + Kin. We thought, if we could just create a beautiful, welcoming, and safe space where people feel comfortable striking up conversation with their peers, maybe, just maybe this would help other parents out there who were struggling with the same things we were. As we began reaching out to people in the industry, we were welcomed with open arms. We couldn’t believe how many people wanted to be a part of this dream of ours! Every single person we have connected with has made an impact on what Kith + Kin is today."
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- EDEN: "Jess and I both felt isolated and craving connection with other parents. When we found each other—we lived just blocks apart—our play dates became brainstorming sessions for how we could support the community with the support we were able to give each other in those early days of parenthood."
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- JESS: "Becoming a parent is such a shock to the system. You’re you, but not you, and it’s hard to find where you belong in your new identity. What you end up with is a bunch of parents living just around the corner from each other doing it more or less alone in these silos, without many social outlets or super accessible resources to get the support they need, especially with their children in tow. We knew we would be referred to as a 'play space,' but we actually started building Kith + Kin from the parent down. If you want kids to thrive, their parents have to thrive, so addressing them and their needs was top priority. So many places are either kid or adult oriented, without the establishments realizing or celebrating that we’re all in this together. So Kith + Kin sought to join both worlds and make it for everyone."
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- JESS: "We have two levels in the space. Downstairs is our main play area, which houses different stations of toys and activities. Our toys were chosen really thoughtfully to maximize open-ended play, critical thinking, and imagination. We chose wood over plastic for environmental, health, and aesthetic purposes. We have a small private classroom downstairs that is mainly used for our support groups. Our mezzanine level has a self-serve cafe that serves coffee, tea, snacks, and healthy lunch options, provided by one of our favorite local cafes, Rybread. Also on the mezzanine is a large communal area for snacking, hanging, or reading a book in our cozy book nook; it houses some other quiet play activities, like puzzles, and a chalkboard. On the mezzanine, we also have a large classroom used for classes that require more space, such as dance, music, art, yoga, and adult workshops. We also use this as a party room for weekend birthday parties and events!"
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- JESS: "We opened last April and the response has been pretty incredible. We spent a lot of time getting our name out there while the physical space was under construction. We got an information table at any local family event we could find, and that was a great opportunity to meet the community and start sharing information about who we were and what Kith + Kin was all about. We had families reaching out to us daily asking when we would be open! One of the most memorable moments was when a family told us that they were actually thinking about moving to a new neighborhood until they found out we were opening and decided to stay. So many members of this community put their faith and trust in us before they even knew us, which made us know we were onto something. Since being open, the response has been wonderful. We’re a bit biased, but we think we have the most wonderful customers that ever existed. There really is a community forming here, and we get to see connections being made every single day, which is just something that makes us so happy. And the kids...we could talk forever about these kids. They’re amazing. All these little ones that walk through our door have become family to us now. We’ve seen so many of them grow from just a few months old to now walking around like they own the place!"
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- JESS: "This is a space built for kids and caregivers to engage in together, but we definitely encourage grown-ups to take advantage of the space and time and get some personal things done as well! We have a couple classes that are drop-off, which enables parents to hang for a bit in our communal space and chat, drink a cup of coffee, or get some work done."
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- JESS: "We’re really proud of our class and workshop offerings! For kids, we have music and art, toddler yoga, sensory play, and occasionally offer a series like karate, dance, or language. But our offerings for prenatal and postpartum parents are immense. We have several pay-what-you-can support groups like breast/chestfeeding, new parent, and a postpartum mental health group. Once a month, a local pediatrician comes to do a free 'health chat' and answer any questions parents might have in between doctor visits. We’ve done birth sharing circles and childbirth classes, baby-led weaning and potty training 101. We work with sleep consultants and physical therapists, speech therapists and mental health professionals. Anyone who can offer a resource or support to a new parent, we want to and have offered it."
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- JESS: "When designing the space, we were really conscious of what anyone would need when visiting to feel comfortable and at home. For example, we have a toddler-size potty for those who are newly out of diapers. We are handicap accessible. We have two private rooms, and when not in use offer them up to anyone who might need them—whether they want some privacy while they nurse, their child is having sensory overload and needs a break, or a space to help calm down a temper tantrum. We even have a birth ball floating around as a seating option for pregnant folks. Additionally, families really enjoy our cafe selections. We have popular snacks that the kids can enjoy, but also really delicious ones for the grown-ups. From chocolate milk to kombucha, we have something for everyone!"
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JESS: "Before Kith + Kin, I worked in the fashion industry for about 10 years. About a year after my son was born I decided to quit my job and be a full time mama to my son, Bo. Eden and I met shortly after I left my job and she became the friend I never knew I needed."
EDEN: "Before Kith + Kin, I was a public health nurse educator with a local non-profit providing in-home support and evidence-based education on pregnancy, parenting, preventative health, and early childhood development. My interest in the postpartum period became particularly strong after having my own child."
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- JESS: "The space was raw when we got it! No floors, no walls, and the windows were completely bricked in. We had to look at everything from the perspective of an adult and a kid, which was challenging at first. We didn’t want to look like a typical playground, so it felt a lot like designing our dream homes, with a really fun play area as well. Jess’ husband helped a lot in designing the layout of the space. We would tell him everything we were trying to squeeze into the space and he would draw it up in a really creative and functional way. We worked with an amazing—and extremely patient—contractor who executed our vision flawlessly, including a custom treehouse! Once the construction was complete, the filling-in part was easy. We had spent close to a year creating wishlists of toys, furniture, and decor that we loved, so as soon as we were given the green light, we shopped like we’ve never shopped before! We also commissioned local artists to design some our most talked about design aspects: Our mural by Lauren Cat West, our “graffelti” piece in our small classroom by Rachel McCollum, and wall hangings by owner Eden’s sister, Grace."
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- JESS: "Kith + Kin is housed in a huge building that was built in the1890s and was part of the Poth Brewery Campus, the largest brewery in the country at the time, and where our neighborhood got its name (Brewerytown). Our building was used as a stable and carriage building, and it's where they prepped the horses and carriages for shipments. The building became fully functioning again just a few years ago, and now houses lots of creatives, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. Besides the beauty we knew we could resurrect from the space, we both live and are raising our families in the neighborhood, so it was an easy choice. Brewerytown is being developed very quickly, with new housing and businesses opening every day, so we wanted to make sure families were going to be represented and taken care of in the midst of that."
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- JESS: "Both! We have a range of options to suit every kind of family. Families can drop in for the day, or become a member for the year—that option comes with perks of course! They can also get a 10-day play pass or class pass, or try us out for a month before making a more long-term decision. We’ve added some seasonal membership options as well that our customers love, especially those with summers off or those needing a winter respite."
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- JESS: "We know that our neighborhood is one that is quickly gentrifying. We are really conscious and sensitive to that, and make sure that every member of the community can not just access the space, but also feels welcome and invited. In fact, it’s one of the first areas we addressed in our business plan. We created the Onward Mama Initiative—though it's not exclusive to mamas!—to decrease the financial barriers that some may have accessing our space. We offer discounts for those on government assistance for all our play offerings, as well as partial to full scholarships for our parent workshops. We also invite the community to donate to our 'Mama Share' as a way to pay it forward. Funds from that are given to families who otherwise couldn’t afford it to use for play or services we offer. We are also always building our relationships with other community organizations, birth workers, those in the mental health field, and beyond, to better serve families and their unique needs."
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- JESS: "A drop-in play pass is $12, half off for siblings, and 50% off those prices for ACCESS/EBT cardholders. Our trial membership is $45 and lasts one month from the first day you purchase it. This covers all children in the family and it’s a great way to check us out and see if we’re the right fit for them. We offer 10-day play passes and 10-class packs, as well—these are both valid for 6 months and are pretty popular with our families that work full time and want to spend their weekends with us. Our annual membership is $360, and this can either be paid up front or paid month to month for a small increase in price. This membership gets you a discount on almost all of our classes, family events, a discount on party rentals, guest passes for your friends to come check us out, and unlimited free coffee!"
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- Keep up with all the latest happenings at Kith + Kin by following them on Instagram.
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