Knucklebones Closing
May. 30th, 2012 09:35 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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davis_squareKnucklebones is apparently being forced to close. Does anyone have more insight into the situation?
Letter from the owner explaining:
Date: Wed, May 30, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Subject: Important Epicenter News
Hello Loyal Knucklebones Followers,
Before news spreads we wanted to share with you directly, we will be
closing the Epicenter on June 30th. As many have already heard, three
weeks before we were to open in December our investor backed out.
This forced us to alter our original plan of "Interactive Toy Store"
to "Play Space with a Toy Store" because we simply did not have the
funds for shelving, inventory, check out system, etc. Our vision had
to be put on hold but we moved forward with what we could afford and
what we thought would be successful. As you have helped to prove,
this concept has been a success and a lot of fun!
For the past few months we’ve been in discussions with the City of
Cambridge due to a neighbor complaining about our backyard use.
Although we have only used the yard for three parties (from
October-May) for a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes, this neighbor
contacted the police and filed a formal complaint. After coming to an
agreement with the City that we will no longer use the backyard for
paid activities, we thought our troubles had come to an end. However,
a week later the City placed a Cease and Desist Order on all paid
activities essentially ending ‘Open Play’ and any classes due to
zoning regulations. Although we had hoped to be a functioning Toy
Store by this time we know that testing products is what makes our
store unique and we are not willing to give up that portion of our
vision and become ‘just another toy store’.
Although the Epicenter will be closing you can still get your KB fix
as we will continue traveling to our clients for play services and
we're looking to run a weekly ‘Open Play’ at the Arts at the Armory.
Of course, you still have the entire month of June to enjoy the
Epicenter’s Open Play, Creative Movement class and purchase remaining
inventory. Beginning Friday, June 1st we will have a Flash Sale of
our current inventory, priced better than Amazon. We will also be
offering reduced rate memberships for $55 (one child) and $50 for
siblings as a Thank You closeout for the month. Open Play will remain
at $7 for the day and we will still host parties through the end of
the month.
I know this news may come as a shock to many of you, it did to us as
well. It has been a fantastic six months and you have been an
integral part of it! Of course, we're excited to move forward to find
a new space, with the correct zoning, for our unique vision of an
interactive toy store. Feel free to provide us any information to
help us locate our next "perfect" location. Thank you for your
support and remember to think of us anytime you need fun and healthy
athletics, retail, consultation, etc...for love of play!
Mitch
Founder | CVO
Knucklebones
196 Elm Street North
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-851-2928
www.Knucklebones.us
Letter from the owner explaining:
Date: Wed, May 30, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Subject: Important Epicenter News
Hello Loyal Knucklebones Followers,
Before news spreads we wanted to share with you directly, we will be
closing the Epicenter on June 30th. As many have already heard, three
weeks before we were to open in December our investor backed out.
This forced us to alter our original plan of "Interactive Toy Store"
to "Play Space with a Toy Store" because we simply did not have the
funds for shelving, inventory, check out system, etc. Our vision had
to be put on hold but we moved forward with what we could afford and
what we thought would be successful. As you have helped to prove,
this concept has been a success and a lot of fun!
For the past few months we’ve been in discussions with the City of
Cambridge due to a neighbor complaining about our backyard use.
Although we have only used the yard for three parties (from
October-May) for a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes, this neighbor
contacted the police and filed a formal complaint. After coming to an
agreement with the City that we will no longer use the backyard for
paid activities, we thought our troubles had come to an end. However,
a week later the City placed a Cease and Desist Order on all paid
activities essentially ending ‘Open Play’ and any classes due to
zoning regulations. Although we had hoped to be a functioning Toy
Store by this time we know that testing products is what makes our
store unique and we are not willing to give up that portion of our
vision and become ‘just another toy store’.
Although the Epicenter will be closing you can still get your KB fix
as we will continue traveling to our clients for play services and
we're looking to run a weekly ‘Open Play’ at the Arts at the Armory.
Of course, you still have the entire month of June to enjoy the
Epicenter’s Open Play, Creative Movement class and purchase remaining
inventory. Beginning Friday, June 1st we will have a Flash Sale of
our current inventory, priced better than Amazon. We will also be
offering reduced rate memberships for $55 (one child) and $50 for
siblings as a Thank You closeout for the month. Open Play will remain
at $7 for the day and we will still host parties through the end of
the month.
I know this news may come as a shock to many of you, it did to us as
well. It has been a fantastic six months and you have been an
integral part of it! Of course, we're excited to move forward to find
a new space, with the correct zoning, for our unique vision of an
interactive toy store. Feel free to provide us any information to
help us locate our next "perfect" location. Thank you for your
support and remember to think of us anytime you need fun and healthy
athletics, retail, consultation, etc...for love of play!
Mitch
Founder | CVO
Knucklebones
196 Elm Street North
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-851-2928
www.Knucklebones.us
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no subject
Date: 2012-05-31 07:20 pm (UTC)I don't understand the business model of this store. I don't have kids, and I've never been there, so I have no idea. How do they make money if they don't sell toys? Here's what I can glean from the article and the owner's letter above: it appears they have toys to sell. They also have samples of those toys available for babies/toddlers to play with. This is the same model that I've seen in many toy/game stores: they give people a sample to examine, maybe even play using the sample, and if the customer decides it's something they want to buy, they buy a new copy, leaving the sample for the next potential customer to examine.
I understand they had paid events. I don't know anything about these events. Did the parents rent out the area so their (and selected other invited children) can have exclusive use of the toys for a half hour or so? Or was this more of a day care facility, where parents could drop off their kids and go shopping in Davis Square, with the parents paying the store to babysit the children, allowing them to play with the toys? Or did they charge for playing with the toys, with the explanation that it costs money to sterilize the toys (baby drool, germs, etc) between usages?
no subject
Date: 2012-06-01 01:47 am (UTC)So, my son loves Knucklebones. We were frequent visitors and shopped there. Basically, the model was simple. You paid $7 to play as long as you wanted with the toys that were all over the store. All of the toys that were out were demo models. If your kid liked one, you would tell the folks you wanted to buy one and they'd haul a new one up from the basement. It was absolutely not a daycare. You attended to and played with your kids. Or, talked to another parent while your kids played together.
They also had music and movement "classes" for kids and did birthday parties where you could let your kids and their friends play for an hour or two and bring in a cake.
Hope that helps.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-01 03:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 11:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 11:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-05 12:30 am (UTC)