Plug pulled on indoor playground

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This article was published 16/09/2019 (2200 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A local indoor playground closed its doors Sunday after being sold to a new ownership group that hopes to convert it to an indoor climbing facility.

Great Big Adventure — a 12,000-sq.-ft. family entertainment centre in a business park off Sterling Lyon Parkway — opened in 2013 on the strength of a $1-million investment by NHL player Alex Steen, the son of former Winnipeg Jets captain and city councillor Thomas Steen. It soon became a children’s birthday party hot spot, with parents booking events months in advance.

For years, the playground thrived as one of the first of a new wave of indoor birthday party facilities, a group that included trampoline park Sky Zone and direct competitor Kid City. But as more businesses like those began popping up around the city — including the Cineplex Rec Room, set to open off Sterling Lyon later this year — the operation became hampered by market struggles: last year, the business shut down its day-care program, and significantly reduced its staff and payroll in an attempt to remain competitive. So when an offer came in to take over the lease, it made sense for ownership to take it.

“First and foremost, the reason for the closure was that the market became saturated with these offerings in our area,” said Jarret Hannah, a member of the playground’s ownership group. “We were looking at a concept change, and were approached by another group to take over the lease for the property (960 Lorimer Blvd.)”

The new group, which does not include Steen, hopes to turn the facility into an indoor climbing park.

The deal closed late last week, Hannah said, and with the new lease beginning Oct. 1, the ownership group was left with a tight turnaround to deconstruct its play structures and conduct general maintenance.

“The urgency was to ready the business environment for the next stage,” he said. “Obviously the collateral is the folks who had their birthday parties booked (had to find alternative arrangements.)”

Michael van Wyk booked his son’s third birthday party, set for Sept. 29, in late June, but on Thursday received a call from the business informing him the playground was shutting down as of Sunday.

“There was really no reason provided other than that they were closing their doors and all reservations were being cancelled,” said van Wyk, who had his $50 deposit plus $50 in compensation returned to him. “They were respectful and returned the deposits, but in terms of timing, it was a little tight and sudden.”

Van Wyk, who said his son had attended several parties at Great Big Adventure, was given enough notice to find another venue — he booked a party at Kid City for the same date — but worried other parents didn’t have the same luxury.

Hannah said all customers with upcoming bookings were contacted directly and had their deposits plus $50 returned. “The timing was something we didn’t plan for. It’s terrible, it sucks, and we’ve tried to compensate them to the best of our abilities,” he said, adding that all parties last weekend were honoured before the closure.

Still, that left some parents scrambling to find alternate plans. Kid City owner Deena Caplette said she fielded several calls from parents who had already sent out invitations and made arrangements to have parties at Great Big Adventure; some had parties booked for the weekend of Sept. 20, and found out late last week about the closure.

On behalf of the ownership group, Hannah was apologetic. “It’s a terrible situation (to be in),” he said. “Market conditions have dictated this circumstance. We had some great years in the community and would have hoped for a better outcome, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”

Hannah encouraged anybody with concerns to call 204-505-4935.

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca