by Emily Merrell, photography by Melissa Donner

After moving to Jonesboro in 2020, Katherine Myer found herself wishing that she could take her young children somewhere they could play safely while she formed friendships with other moms. Myer recently turned this dream into Little Lattes Play Cafe, a children’s play space with a cafe area for parents to eat, drink coffee and socialize while watching their little ones explore.

Myer grew up in a military family, moving around frequently. She lived in Germany from the ages of 4 to 9, and then moved back to Germany again with her husband, Joey, at age 18. Katherine and Joey lived in Germany for three years before getting stationed in South Carolina and then moving to Jonesboro in 2020. Myer says she enjoyed the family-oriented sense of community that came with living on a military base.

“As a military spouse, we were stationed in Germany and the military community is so family-oriented, it is something I truly enjoyed and something that lacked when I moved to Jonesboro,” said Myer. “Moving here right after a large tornado and in the middle of Covid was a difficult time to join a new community.

“Trying to navigate motherhood and making new friendships is where the idea of Little Lattes was born. I started this process at the end of 2021 when I constantly saw moms in a local Facebook group validating my thoughts, that we didn’t have anywhere in town for moms to socialize and their kids to play at the same time. I started with a poll on Facebook, asking for what other parents needed in this area, and from there I created my LLC and business plan.”

Myer wanted to make sure the 5,000-square-foot play area could accommodate a wide range of children ages 8 and under. Little Lattes has an infant and toddler soft play area with ball pits and a toddler climbing structure for small children. Little Lattes also has a variety of play structures for older children– a fire house, a grocery store, a playhouse, a construction zone sponsored by Northeast Arkansas Homes and a pediatric clinic play area sponsored by Jonesboro Pediatric Clinic.

While the wide range of play options for children was important to Myer, having a space for parents to truly enjoy their time, as well, was essential to her vision for Little Lattes.

“For parents, we put a large emphasis on comfort and accessibility,” she said. “They are able to grab a bite to eat, get coffee and plug in for work all within the center of the cafe where they can keep eyes on their children.”

Little Lattes offers many drink options for customers, including specialty iced and blended coffee beverages, classic hot coffee, Lotus Energy drinks and flavored drinks for kids. Parents and children can also enjoy food, such as paninis, bagels, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken nuggets, baked goods from local businesses and the popular kids’ charcuterie tray, served in a muffin tin with kid-friendly snacks such as pretzels, fruit slices, cheese cubes and animal crackers.

Little Lattes offers one-day unlimited play passes for $12 per child. Monthly and yearly memberships are available for purchase, and birthday party packages are also available, ranging from $150 to $600. The business hosts Music Bus NEA twice monthly, a music and movement class for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Myer would like to host events in the space such as lactation classes, birthing classes and mom groups, and she is considering the possibility of expanding and franchising the business in the future.

Little Lattes is located at 1312 Red Wolf Blvd., Suite E, which Myer felt was a location that would be accessible to families in Jonesboro, Brookland and Paragould. They are open Monday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8-11:30 a.m. For more information, follow Little Lattes Café on their Facebook page, call (870) 604-8137 or visit littlelattesllc.com.