Kids Empire indoor playground coming to Summit Mall

Families shopping at Summit Mall will have a place for younger children to climb, play and release their pent-up energy in early 2024.

Kids Empire plan to open one a 10,609-square-foot indoor playground inside the Fairlawn mall. The play areas are geared toward children 12 and younger, typically featuring a two-story playground for older children and a smaller area for infants and toddlers.

Bill Arnold, commissioner for Fairlawn's zoning, housing and residential building department, said the facility will move into the mall's former movie theater space.

Jacob Turner, project manager with Kids Empire, said it will take about 90 days from start to finish to complete the move-in process. The total cost of the project is around $750,000.

Kid Empire has received approval from from Fairlawn's Planning Commission; this will be one of its first facilities in Ohio. Plans also are underway for locations in Solon and in the Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted, Kids Empire officials said.

Turner said there are 53 locations nationwide and 22 more under construction.

"This is a very well-designed playground," Turner said. He added that he takes his own children to the Kids Empire where he lives in Texas.

Parents must stay with their children inside the facility

Kids Empire will not be a place where parents can drop off their children and go shopping, Turner said.

"All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian as we do not accept or allow drop offs, not even for reserved birthday parties or other group events like Girl Scouts events," stated a letter from a Kids Empire representative to the city. "We are not a day care and we do not prepare or cook any food on the premises."

Turner explained at a Planning Commission meeting that up to two parents or guardians are admitted free with each child's paid admission. Guests are buzz in and stamped as they enter and buzzed out when they exit. Any parent leaving without a child will be asked about it. This system also helps prevent a child leaving with an adult who is not their parent or guardian.

Mayor Russell Sharnsky said adult supervision is an important expectation at the mall.

"We've had some issues from time to time with unsupervised kids," he said.

There will be some packaged food and drinks on hand for purchase, such as chips, candy, cookies, water, juice and soda, Turner said. In addition, pizza and cakes are an option for reserved birthday parties.

"We partner with a local pizzeria or a bakery for cake, but we are not heating or cooling any type of food," Turner said.

Hours for Kids Empire will be Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Staffing will include five to seven employees during the busiest peak shifts.

Local history: Fifty years ago, Summit Mall changed how we shopped

A look back: Montrose Drive-In flickered to life 75 years ago

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit Mall adding Kids Empire playground in former theater spot