04/02/2026
I know, bad timing, but this is unfortunately not an April Fools.
After 5 incredible years at The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes (and almost 8 years since we first opened our doors in Champlin in 2018), we are in the midst of finalizing details to close our doors at the end of April.
I'm so grateful to have called this amazing space home for the past 5 years. In the middle of the pandemic, when I felt like all hope was lost, I walked into this space, looked at Keith and said, “This is it — this is where MiniSota was meant to be.” To my surprise, we were welcomed into this wonderful shopping center and kept going. My family and team have poured our literal blood, sweat, and tears into the business. We have done everything we could to create a clean, safe, imaginative place for caregivers and little ones to connect, play, and make memories.
But after a lot of negotiating, we cannot afford to sign a new long-term lease in this space. We simply can’t keep up with the current market rates for this property. With very short notice, we’re now facing the question of “what’s next?” — and honestly, I don’t have a clear answer yet.
My number one goal remains to see MiniSota reopen, continuing to offer the special space we’ve all loved. That said, I'm unsure on whether I'm the right person to begin this journey again. So, I’m also open to the possibility of selling the business to a passionate new family who could relocate and reopen it in a fresh spot.
If you or someone you know might be interested in purchasing and continuing the MiniSota Play Cafe legacy, please fill out the form on our Contact Us page. I’d love to hear from you.
Practical details (as we know them today):
- Although we don’t have the final details yet, we are planning to close at the end of April.
- As soon as we have the official closure date confirmed, we will share it publicly right away.
- Monthly memberships will no longer auto-renew.
- Punch cards and gift cards: Please use them over the next 3.5 weeks—we want you to enjoy every prepaid visit!
- The best advice right now: Come in soon and use any remaining visits or credits.
We truly hope to reopen, but we don’t know exactly what the future holds, so I want everyone to make the most of the time we have left in this space.
When we started this journey, Carson was 18 months old and Mary was turning 4. You’ve literally watched (and helped!) me raise them. From Carson’s potty-training adventures during COVID—running out naked into the play area while I checked people in, only for customers (who many became friends) to gently let me know “Um, Mandy… Carson’s naked in the play area, again”—to braving blizzards, holidays, and everything in between, this community has been our lifeline.
Thank you for supporting us through a pandemic, bringing daily joy and laughter, and turning this place into something truly special. The magnitude of this change is just starting to sink in, and I’m asking for your grace and understanding as I navigate what’s next for the business, my staff, and my own professional life.
I’ll be sharing more updates on Instagram (), so please follow along if you’d like to stay in the loop. The next month will be emotional, and while I’ll be here to greet everyone, repeating the same updates in person over and over will be heavy—posting and sharing stories lets me share thoughtfully.
I hope to see you all soon.
From the bottom of my heart: Thank you for everything.
❤️
Mandy, Keith, Mary, and Carson
