8 Things to Know About Grow Café

The best inventions are often born from necessity, and this was certainly true for Stacy and Michael Baker, co-owners of Grow Café. As working parents with two daughters under age 4 (they also have a 17-year-old son), they struggled to find a place in Charlotte where they could work remotely while their children played. “Both (girls) are pandemic babies, so they’ve been close to the vest for most of their lives,” Michael says. “It was becoming increasingly difficult to find places where they could occupy themselves and we could get a little break. This is designed for a post-pandemic atmosphere. Parents can get a pick-me-up or get some work done and know their kids have a safe space to play.”

The café menu has coffee, bakery items, and kid-friendly snacks, and the 2,000-square-foot space has an interactive play place where children can get their wiggles out. Parents can settle in with their coffee and respond to emails—or just enjoy a few uninterrupted moments while the kids are occupied. Here are eight more things to know about Grow Café, which opens this Saturday, July 27.

It was created for parents by parents. Stacy, whose background is in non-profits and youth advocacy, had been batting around an idea for a play cafe since 2018. After having her own daughters back-to-back, she realized how isolating the pandemic could be for both parents—and how important social skills are to a child’s development. “By age 3, 80% of a child’s brain is developed,” she says. “We wanted the space to be where children could play because play creates a lot of growth. So we’re creating growth within a coffee shop.” 

It caters to littles. Grow Café is ideal for children aged 0-6. The indoor play area has safe, age-appropriate activities while the cafe area has counter seating, tables, and couches where parents can utilize the complimentary W-Fi and enjoy a cup of coffee. The hours are family-friendly, too: They’re open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

There’s more than just coffee. The café serves lattes, espresso, and cold brews from Enderly Coffee, as well as sweet treats from Beyond Amazing Donuts (B.A.D.). They also have snacks and juice boxes for little ones.

They’re cashless. Grow Café accepts all major credit cards and Apple Pay. Admission includes one hour of playtime. Children 2 and up are $12 on weekdays and $14 on Saturdays. Children 1 and under are $10 on weekdays and $12 on Saturdays. Children under 1 are free with a paid sibling. Two adults are included in the admission price, and additional adults are $7 each.

You can be a VIP. Monthly memberships are $80 for families with one child over 6 months or $150 for families with multiple children. Members can reserve free one-hour open play sessions Monday through Friday. Membership benefits also include one free coffee beverage per month and a 25% discount on merchandise and Saturday entry fees. 

They’ll offer special activities and events each month. Check their website for information on storytime with local children’s authors, mommy-and-me yoga classes, arts and crafts, and expert-led workshops. They also offer birthday party packages and can accommodate special events.

It meets a need. “All other major cities have play cafés,” Stacy says. “We’re number two in the nation for banking, so it was crazy to me that in 2024, we didn’t have a play cafe. I thought, If we don’t do this, someone else will and we won’t be the first. This is built for adults with the understanding that children will play, but it’s still very much a coffee shop.” 

Their grand opening celebration is this weekend. Grow Café will officially open its doors this Saturday, July 27 at 10 a.m. Come for face painting, interactive story times, giveaways, and special appearances by Bluey and Princess Tiana. For more information, visit growcafeclt.com.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Robinson

Grow Café is located at 5324 Docia Crossing Road, Suite B, in Highland Creek’s Prosperity Shopping Plaza.