SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Playtime and Parties is throwing one last hoorah in the borough this weekend before it shuts its doors for good..
The final party at the children’s entertainment and day care center will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at 25 W. Main St. Balloons, T-shirts and other items will be given out. The cost is reduced to $5 and those under 1 are free.
Ashley Herrmann, 28, of Pottsville, said she just found out about the business about three weeks ago and was saddened to hear that it was closing.
She said she brings her two stepchildren, William, 7, and Eugene, 8, to play at the site and that the children are upset it’s closing so soon.
“They love, love, love coming here,” she said.
Janet Hooper, co-owner of the center, announced that it would no longer operate in June.
“I feel really bad,” Hooper said Wednesday about the decision.
The business opened Sept. 1, 2012, and offered children from infants to age 12 a place to have fun and socialize. It had activities and attractions such as a rock wall, carousel and bounce house.
“Saturday at 6 p.m. we’re done,” Hooper said.
Hooper said the business is closing due to the additional workload she has shouldered.
Sabrina McClain, co-owner, has a long-term illness and had been unable to work since December. In addition, Hooper has been unable to find another suitable employee since then. She is unable to fully devote herself to the business because of her other full-time job as a guidance counselor at Fort Indiantown Gap.
Hooper consulted with McClain and they came to the decision that it was no longer feasible to keep the business open.
Other patrons of the business also said Wednesday that they didn’t want Playtime and Parties to close.
Sarah Fisher, 32, of Schuylkill Haven, was not happy with the news.
Her children, Holly Fisher, 3, and Kane Fisher, 1, enjoy their time at Playtime and Parties.
“They just like to run and play,” she said.
Holly calls it “the panda place” because of the decorations.
The young girl pointed to an elephant, one of three animals on the carousel at the day care, as the one she liked the best “because it is pink.”
Thelma Urban, 39, of Lake Wynonah, said her son, Sean Urban, 4, will also miss playing at the business.
“He wakes me up and says it’s time to go to Playtime and Parties,” she said.
On the fate of the site, Hooper said there are people interested in the playground equipment and someone interested in buying the entire lot, though no future sale plans are yet determined.