Rockaplay SC Comes to Arverne by the Sea on Friday

 Rockaplay SC Comes to Arverne by the Sea on Friday

By Katie McFadden

Arverne is about to have a place for young kids to play. Rockaplay Social Club, an indoor play space for kids ages 0 to 6, opens at 68-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd. this Friday, October 25.

Over the last 20 years, Arverne by the Sea has brought a host of new offerings to the peninsula. As of Friday, that will include a place for parents to bring their little ones for some indoor fun, right in time for the cooler weather. With the beach not being an ideal option as it gets colder, Rockaplay Social Club brings the beach and all things by the sea inside, for young children to enjoy through open play and structured programming. But this space isn’t just for the kids. It’ll also serve as a space for parents to meet, enjoy coffee and baked goods, while keeping an eye over their little ones, and even prep mothers to be with offerings like pre-natal yoga and more.

Being part of Arverne by the Sea, it’s only fitting that Rockaplay SC offers everything by the sea. From a lifeguard stand that kids can climb to a boat setup where children can feel like a captain, to a rideable ice cream truck, to even a construction site sand pit where tots can pretend they’re future Army Corps of Engineers, and an under the sea themed sensory space, owners Emily Arikian and Corinne Sommer had Rockaway in mind when creating their vision for Rockaplay SC.

Arikian is a lifelong resident with a clinical social worker’s background who spent 12 years working with children at Camp KidsmART, bringing with her knowledge of what kids enjoy. Sommer is a renewable energy engineer with a background in construction, bringing her brain to the construction aspect of the buildout. But both have personal experience of what it is to be a mom in Rockaway, which can lack things for young children to do, especially when the beach closes for the summer.

Both mothers to two-and-a-half-year-old boys, the new moms met in March 2023 at Miss Linda’s music class for moms and babies in Belle Harbor. “In early motherhood, creating your network is an essential piece and finding people that you like in a similar area with similar aged kids is a beautiful trifecta. We clicked right away,” Arikian said.

With limited resources for young kids in Rockaway, the moms started bringing their boys to a gym in Lynbrook. “One day the gym was closed so we went to a play space instead and I said to Emily, ‘we can do this,’” Sommer said. “On Sundays, we used to have parent hangouts at the Rockaway Brewery and one day the kids were splashing in a keg filled with water on top and I thought, ‘we deserve better. Our kids deserve better.’ As our kids got older, the brewery became less appropriate and eventually it closed, so we needed a space where there’s structure and we can foster a connection with other parents. Emily looked at me, and said, ‘I’m in, let’s do it.’”

That conversation took place about a year ago, and from there, Arikian and Sommer decided to explore spaces in their neighborhood of Arverne by the Sea. With the full interest of Arverne by the Sea CEO Gerard Romski wanting to add a space for kids to the many offerings in the area, the girls had full support, and when PSE&G decided the close their office, the moms signed the lease for the space in June and got to work. “This space was appealing because it’s central to a lot of things,” Arikian said. “And there’s parking,” Sommer added, speaking of the large public lot available behind the storefronts. Once they had the space, they got to work, transforming the office space from floor to ceiling, with the help of contractors making their vision come to life.

On Friday, they’ll officially open their doors for parents and kids to see what they offer for open play, with even more elements to come, including a slide and ball pit for kids. And this Saturday, they’ll begin their first pop-up event with a Boo Bash Halloween party for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., where costumed kids can enjoy a dance party, pizza, a Halloween themed craft and more. That will be followed by a series of programs like a Toddler Music Movement class on Tuesdays for ages 1 to 3, a Sensory Theater Play workshop on Wednesdays for ages 2 to 5, and their first author event on November 9, with Michelle Chiusano reading her children’s book, “Champ’s Day Out.” All programs will be led by professionals who have been vetted. Outside of programming, parents and kids can take advantage of 90-minute open play sessions, where they can enjoy toys and climbing aspects that they wouldn’t have at home, through individual sessions or with 10-packs or monthly subscriptions, all offered at low rates, to make it affordable for most parents. They are also available for private parties and already have a few booked.

As Rockaplay SC isn’t a drop-off center, parents or caretakers are required to be on site with their children during all play sessions and programs. And the play space is a no shoe zone, so children must have socks.

They also plan to eventually have offerings for parents and parents to be. “We’ll have a yoga instructor come in for prenatal yoga, and baby and me classes, and we have a café in front with a coffee bar and baked goods from Rockaway Beach Bakery for purchase,” Arikian said. “We want to be a support system for parents.” They also have a desk space for parents to get work done or enjoy their coffee.

Putting finishing touches on the space, Arikian and Sommer are ready to open their doors on Friday. “It is so exciting!” Sommer said. “I feel really ready. It’s surreal walking around saying, ‘wow, we made this. It’s going to be beautiful,’” Arikian said.

Rockaplay Social Club is located at 68-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations for open play, and especially programming, is encouraged at rockawayplaysc.com or by phone at 718-635-1752. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Closed Sundays. For more updates, follow @rockaplaysocialclub on Instagram.

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