{"id":3502,"date":"2026-10-21T10:48:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T02:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.samsdecor.com\/blog\/?p=3502"},"modified":"2026-10-21T10:48:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T02:48:52","slug":"what-are-the-best-locations-for-a-commercial-soft-play-business-43df-43baba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.samsdecor.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/21\/what-are-the-best-locations-for-a-commercial-soft-play-business-43df-43baba\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the best locations for a commercial soft play business?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a commercial soft play supplier, you know picking the right location for a new soft play business can make or break how much traffic you get\u2014and how long that traffic sticks around. I\u2019ve been working in this game for over a decade, installing soft play setups for everything from standalone centers to cafes and community hubs, and I\u2019ve seen first-hand which spots crush it, and which ones end up gathering more dust than kids. Let\u2019s break down the best locations, why they work, and what to watch out for when you\u2019re scouting. Commercial Soft Play<\/a><\/p>\n

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First up, standalone family entertainment centers (FECs) in mid-sized suburban areas. Wait, let me clarify\u2014this isn\u2019t a tiny town of 5,000 people with only one elementary school. We\u2019re talking suburbs within a 20-mile radius of 50,000 to 150,000 households, mostly with young families (think 25 to 40-year-olds with 1-2 kids under 10). Why? Suburbs are where most families outgrow backyard play sets but don\u2019t want to trek 45 minutes to a city indoor playground or a zoo. Last year, we installed a 1,200 sq ft soft play structure in a suburb outside Columbus, Ohio, that\u2019s already hitting 80% occupancy on weekends because it\u2019s the only dedicated play spot for 30,000 nearby families. Pro tip: Avoid areas with too many existing competitors\u2014if there are two other soft play centers within 10 miles, you\u2019ll split the customer base too thin. I once tried a location in Denver where three FECs were within 15 miles, and the center we set up there only did 40% of the projected revenue. That\u2019s not a soft play problem, that\u2019s a location problem.<\/p>\n

Second spot: cafes with a family focus, especially \u201cplay cafes\u201d or coffee shops targeting parents with young kids. Wait, not just any regular coffee shop. We\u2019ve had the most success with small to mid-sized cafes (1,500 to 2,500 sq ft total) that already have a loyal local parent customer base. Why? Parents hate paying for a separate play center just to let their kid run around\u2014they want to grab a latte, a bite, and let their kid play while they chat or work. Last year, we teamed up with a cute little cafe in Portland, Oregon, that did $4,000 a month in soft play revenue alone in the first six months, on top of their regular coffee sales. The key here is that the cafe\u2019s existing foot traffic is your foot traffic\u2014you don\u2019t have to spend a ton on marketing to get people through the door. Just make sure the cafe is in a spot with easy parking, and that it\u2019s not a quiet downtown spot where parents are too busy to bring their kids. I learned that the hard way: we installed a soft play structure in a downtown Seattle coffee shop a few years back, and it flopped because there was no parking, and most customers were office workers who couldn\u2019t bring their kids during the day.<\/p>\n

Third: community centers and rec centers, especially those with existing youth programs. Wait, not the big city rec centers that host high school sports\u2014we\u2019re talking about smaller, local rec centers in neighborhoods with lots of young families. Let\u2019s take an example: a rec center in Austin, Texas, that runs after-school programs for 6-12 year olds and weekend family events. We installed a modular soft play setup there, and now it\u2019s used for open play, birthday parties, and even youth fitness classes. The rec center already has built-in access to local families, so they don\u2019t have to do much advertising\u2014they just send out emails to their membership list, and people show up. Another plus: rec centers often have lower rent than standalone FECs, because they\u2019re non-profit or government-run, so that cuts down on your overhead. The only catch? Make sure the rec center has enough space for the soft play, plus a separate area for parents to sit. If the only spot they have is a 500 sq ft corner of a gym, you\u2019ll end up with a cramped setup that kids hate, and parents won\u2019t stay.<\/p>\n

Fourth: retail areas with a high concentration of family-friendly stores, like shopping centers with Target, Walmart, or specialty toy stores. Wait, not a fancy upscale mall where the stores are $500 handbag shops\u2014we\u2019re talking about strip malls or power centers that cater to everyday families. Let\u2019s say a power center in Atlanta that has a grocery store, a kids\u2019 clothing shop, and a movie theater. We installed a small soft play area there, and it works because parents are already out running errands or catching a movie, and they can drop their kid at the play spot for an hour while they shop. Last quarter, we had a client in Charlotte, North Carolina, who added a 800 sq ft soft play structure to their shopping center, and their rental revenue from the play spot was $2,500 a month within the first three months. The thing about retail locations is that foot traffic is consistent\u2014especially on weekends, when families do most of their shopping. Just make sure the play spot is near the main entrance, not tucked in the back of the mall where no one can find it.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about the locations you should avoid, because even the best soft play setup can\u2019t save a bad spot. First, areas with a median age over 40. If the average age of people in the area is 45 or higher, there are way fewer young families with kids under 10, so your customer base is tiny. I once did a project in a retirement community in Florida, and the soft play we installed there was only used by a few grandkids visiting\u2014hardly enough to turn a profit. Second, locations with no dedicated parking. Parents won\u2019t drive around for 20 minutes looking for a spot, especially if they have a stroller and a kid who\u2019s already restless. We had a client in Chicago who tried a spot with street parking only, and their play center was half empty every weekend because people couldn\u2019t park. Third, remote areas outside of a major city. If the spot is more than 25 minutes from any residential neighborhood, families won\u2019t make the trip regularly\u2014they\u2019ll only come for birthday parties, which is a small portion of your revenue.<\/p>\n

Wait, before I wrap up, let\u2019s add a quick pro tip from someone who\u2019s installed hundreds of these setups: always scout the location during peak hours. If you\u2019re looking at a suburb, go there on a Saturday afternoon and count how many young families are out at the grocery store, the park, and local cafes. If you\u2019re looking at a shopping center, count foot traffic between 1 pm and 5 pm on a weekend\u2014those are the hours when parents will drop their kids at soft play. I once passed on a spot in Indianapolis because when I scouted it on a weekday, it looked busy, but on a Saturday, there were barely any families around. Turned out the area was mostly home to college students, not young families.<\/p>\n

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At the end of the day, the best locations for a commercial soft play business are the ones where there\u2019s a consistent group of young parents with kids under 10, easy access and parking, and not too much competition. If you\u2019re in the process of setting up a new soft play space, or you\u2019re looking to upgrade your current setup, reach out to our team to chat through your location, your space, and what will work best for your community. We\u2019ve got years of experience designing and installing soft play setups that fit exactly what different locations need, and we\u2019re here to help you turn your play space into a go-to spot for families.<\/p>\n

Ocean Soft Play<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAPA). (2023). Family Entertainment Center Location and Demographic Trends Report.<\/li>\n
  2. Small Business Administration (SBA). (2022). Guide to Retail and Commercial Location Selection for Family-Focused Businesses.<\/li>\n
  3. Soft Play Industry Association. (2024). Suburban Soft Play Center Performance Analysis.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Guangzhou Flyfun Amusement Equipment Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Guangzhou Flyfun Amusement Equipment Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional commercial soft play manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and good price. Please rest assured to buy cheap commercial soft play made in China here from our factory. Customized orders are welcome.
    Address: No.26 Dangang West Street,Shiji Village,Shilian Road, Shiji Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou City,Guangdong,China.
    E-mail: 13416106505@163.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.indoorsoftplayground.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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