On September 30, our café flooded. A hose came loose on our coffee machine while we were closed, and water from the main line poured into our barista bar, café, and play space for hours before we discovered it.
By some miracle, a team member stopped in and found the deluge. Within minutes of posting on our stories, dozens of you showed up. You came in pajamas and duck boots, with fans, shop vacs, and dehumidifiers. You dropped everything to help us clean up. The shift from being completely gutted to being wrapped up in love and support… it’s something I will never forget.
With your help, the standing water was removed quickly, but the damage is significant. Every inch of flooring has to be ripped out and replaced. Drywall needs to come down. Concrete needs to dry. Furniture, toys, and equipment have to be moved, repaired, or replaced. It’s a huge job, and it means Little Village will be closed for Open Play through the end of October while restoration is underway.
What’s Still Happening
Even though our doors are closed, the village is still alive. Our Little Learners and Early Readers programs are continuing at alternate locations in Tosa, so families don’t have to miss out on their weekly routines of play, learning, and connection.
- Little Learners Toddler Classes (Ages 1–3) are now meeting at Dandy on Vliet Street.
- Early Readers Preschool Workshops (Ages 3–5) are gathering at Little Geese Shop in the Tosa Village.
- Baby & Me Peer Group (Caregivers with babies under 12 months) are gathering at Little Geese Shop in the Tosa Village.
More info on all of our alternate locations here!
Gather & Grow Market
We are so excited to bring our community together again on Sunday, October 14 for our fall Gather & Grow Market!
The patio will be filled with 30+ local makers, kid-friendly crafts, and the coziest fall vibes. While our indoor space is still under construction, our pop-up bar will be open with a limited-edition fall drink menu, mimosas, dad brews, and breakfast sammies to keep you cozy while you shop and play.
Come sip, shop, and celebrate community, resilience, and the magic of fall... all the things Little Village is built on. 💛
The Honest Part
Here’s the truth: insurance helps, but not fully. We’re still responsible for deductibles and the financial hit of being closed. After a slow summer, we don’t have the cushion to absorb this. We’ve been running on grit and hope for years, and this flood knocked the wind out of us.
Asking for help is excruciating. I built Little Village because life with little ones is too hard and too beautiful to do alone. I’ve seen babies take their first steps here, friendships form here, kids grow up here. It’s the honor of my life. But behind the scenes, being a small business owner has been harder than I ever imagined.
It has cost me sleep, health, and countless moments with my kids. Missed bedtime stories. Emails at the dinner table. Waking up at 3 a.m. wondering how we’ll make payroll. There are days I wonder if I can keep going. And still, I wouldn’t trade the village we’ve built for anything.
Some friends set up a GoFundMe to help us come out of this stronger. If now isn't a good time to support us financially - don't worry about it. We totallllly get it. We could also use helpers to pick up shifts so that we can make comeback stronger than ever. If you want to volunteer to help out, you can do that here!
Gratitude
Thank you to my husband, Spencer, and my kids, Will, Tom, and Sam. They’ve had the leftovers of me these last few years, and yet they love me just as much. They are my heart and my inspiration, always always.
And thank you to every single one of you who showed up with mops and fans, who sent dms & kinds words, who offered help. You’ve reminded me that maybe I didn’t build this just for you... maybe we built it for each other. Maybe this is my turn to lean in.
What’s Next
We'll continue to share updates as we have them. But for now, we need your help to get through this season. Without it, I don’t know what the future of Little Village looks like.
If you’ve felt the magic of this space, if you believe kids and families deserve places like this, please consider supporting. Thanks to friends, family, and small biz pals (i'm looking at you Joy Ice Cream Social & The LIttle Geese Shop), we’ve put together ways to help.
Sharing, supporting, sending good vibes… it all matters more than you know.
We love you, Village. Thank you. We are overwhelmed, but we are hopeful. 💛
