“My passion is kids,” said Linda Cordell, Co-Owner of Kidergy Indoor Playground. “I will miss them the most”.
As many businesses still remain closed due to COVID-19 risks, Kidergy was unable to wait out the pandemic without incoming revenue, and ultimately forced to close its doors.
Once a bustling café and playground where parents came to relax while their children played, now remains an empty space void of children’s laughter.
Kidergy opened its doors on March 9, 2013 as a family owned business, partnered with Linda’s son Jeremy Parr and family friend Scott Kneeshaw.
The centre was busy year-round with birthday parties and family events such as summer camps, kids karaoke, entertainment with Coach Steve, princess visits from Enchanted Fairy Tales, and kids yoga classes to name a few.
The centre also held several charity events for Big Brothers & Sisters, Carrie’s Place, and Autism Ontario.
With no end in sight as to when public gatherings would be allowed again, Cordell could not continue to make the lease payments to keep Kidergy open.
“It wasn’t going to be possible to stay open. One month (being closed) was difficult,” said Cordell.
Cordell states that she applied for financial assistance and although she did receive some benefits, it was not enough to cover the financial hardship and debt they faced for the future of Kidergy.
“We had so many plans… so much was supposed to happen with (Kidergy),” Cordell expressed with tears.
Longevity of the outbreak set a new reality for Cordell, leaving her feeling defeated and unable to reopen, even with limited gatherings.
“Even if we can reopen, we had already missed our busy season,” said Cordell, which typically runs from October to the end of June.
After already getting through two months of an “extremely slow” period, Cordell was devastated when the government announced the immediate closure of many public establishments right before March break.
“I was stocked and ready with planned events, and then March break was just cancelled,” Cordell laments.
When local mom Jess Krystal found out Kidergy was closing, she was “heartbroken.”
Krystal had been bringing her children, Jaxson (age six) and Isabella (age five) since they were babies and has known Cordell since the day Kidergy opened.
“My kids won’t be able to continue to grow at Kidergy,” said Krystal. “We have so many memories there.”
Loss of revenue and the decision to close were additionally burdened by Cordell’s mother battling cancer.
“I drive my mom to weekly appointments for her treatments,” Cordell explains. “It was getting difficult to manage both.”
Cordell hasn’t thought about what she will do next, but stressed she will need to find alternative employment.
“(Kidergy) was supposed to be my retirement,” said Cordell.
As the uncertainty of the province’s state of emergency continues, more and more businesses may be faced with a similar decision as Cordell.
Cordell struggles with the idea of letting go of her second home.
She hopes a potential buyer will keep it an indoor play place and “keep the dream alive.”
