Sunnyside Plays, 43-09 48th Avenue (Photo: Sunnyside Post)
June 11, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
A popular children’s indoor play venue and event space on 48th Avenue will shutter its doors next month after nearly four years in business.
Sunnyside Plays, located at 43-09 48th Ave., will close on July 15 due to the current economic climate, co-owner Ed Kim announced Wednesday.
“In the wake of COVID-19 and in these uncertain times, we are in an untenable situation where our space cannot be maintained,” Kim said in a statement.
Kim, who operates Sunnyside Plays with his wife Vanessa Quinn, said that the outlook for the children’s play industry is bleak.
He noted that a similar venue in Long Island City, City Owlets, recently closed.
Kim said his business has limited cash reserves to call upon and the couple no longer believes it is economically viable to stay open. He said that the threat of a resurgence of the virus was also a factor in their decision.
Sunnyside Plays opened in late 2016 and has functioned as a space for people of all ages.
The large indoor playground has mainly served as a play area for children and a venue for kids’ birthday parties. Various children’s classes including, painting, drawing, reading, arts and crafts, and sign language have also been held.
The company has provided dance classes, yoga, and various music lessons for adults while the cafe/bar area has facilitated game nights and other social events.
Kim said they hope to open a similar space again in the future but in a different capacity.
“We are immensely sad but also grateful to serve a warm, nurturing and friendly community,” he said.
9 Comments
Another one bites the dust. Sunnyside just cant keep businesses huh. Like I said plenty of times , sunnyside is the new Detroit. It’s what you deserve after trying to gentrify your neighborhood
trying? it is gentrified. 1bdrm co-op apartments are still selling for half a million and prices will likely go up. considering that manhattan co-ops sell for 3-4 times as much, Sunnyside is still a bargain. all the new construction wont ever stop. move up or move out. the people here are hard working families. they poured their entire life savings into buying their apartment. its nice to see that their investment was worthwhile.
Hashtagger as T- Get a job a hobby, love interest or just a life already.
Dont know how they stayed open for so long. How did they pay the rent? Big space, Very boring for kids over 2ish
Most of the people that could afford to send their kids to these places are moving out of city, keeping their kids at home or just opting for virtual and smaller group programs to pop up.
Another small business destroyed by the lockdown. This lockdown was a disaster and has real victims.
Totally worth it ?
Another small business destroyed by the Covid lockdown. We will look back and realize after a month, it was enough. This is very sad.
It is sad, but was the responsible thing to do.