Art Cafe is a new process art and sensory play studio in Westfield opening in this month. For this months Meet a Mom, I got a chance to speak with the two co-owners Esther and Cory about what families can expect from Art Cafe and some of their favorite places in Union County.
Where are you from? Where do you live now?
- Cory: I’m originally from Chicago, and now I live in beautiful Westfield (south side!) with my family.
- Esther: I was born and raised in Queens, NY and now I live 10 min from Cory in Westfield!
Do you have kids and what ages are they?
- Cory: I’ve got two kids – my daughter is 7 and my son is almost 2. And if we’re counting fur babies, then my third kid is our 2-year-old Pitt Bull named Apple. 🙂
- Esther: My two daughters, Laurel and Florentine, are 6.5 and almost 5.
What is your favorite restaurant in Union County?
- Cory: For the whole family, our go-to restaurant is Fiamma’s downtown Westfield. For date night, we love Black Sheep in Garwood.
- Esther: I’m a big fan of Liv Breads in Millburn and Splash of Thai, our neighbor here on South Ave. in Westfield!
What is your favorite local activity to do with your kids in Union County?
- Cory: We love to explore playgrounds – there are so many great ones in Union County! I follow NJ Park Sharks for playground recommendations. We try to visit a new one at least once a week when the weather is nice. One of our favorites is Verona Park Playground, and we really like the new Memorial Playground in Westfield.
- Esther: We love going to IKEA in Elizabeth to watch airplanes take off at Newark, play pretend in all the furniture, and eat Swedish meatballs. Going to IKEA brings back fond memories of exploring the maze of Home Goods with my mom.
Do you own a business and if so what can you tell us about it? Tell us what you do for a living?
We are so happy to be able to say yes! We are co-owners of Art Cafe, a new process art and sensory play studio in Westfield, for kids 2-10 years old.
- Cory: My background is in child development and K-8 education research, and I’ve spent years researching the benefits of play- and process-based learning. I run the art studio side of Art Cafe. As CEO, I wear a lot of hats – from brand strategy and marketing to art curriculum development and HR. It’s hard work, but it’s the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done.
- Esther: I’m CFO at Art Cafe, and I manage everything related to finance and business operations, and I also oversee our cafe! I’m a coffee connoisseur, with a background that spans mechanical engineering and global supply chain operations.
What made you start the business?
- Cory: Children spend much of their day simply following directions, but the skills they’ll need most in the future – things like creative problem-solving, independence, collaboration, and self-sufficiency – are built through choice and self-led exploration. I’ve known for years that I wanted to create a multi-purpose space that supports children and their grownups. After seeing first-hand the developmental benefits of open-ended art play – where kids actually have the freedom to make and learn from their own decisions – I knew a process art studio was the business model we’d start with.
- Esther: We were both ready to leave the corporate role to pursue something more fulfilling. I had the idea to start a coffee truck to visit the local playgrounds we find ourselves in so often. Cory had always dreamed of starting an early ed school or child-led space. So we joined forces and together are bringing Art Cafe to life!
What can Union County expect from Art Cafe?
- Cory & Esther: A community of kids and families and local artists that come together weekly to create a lot of joy and laughter, lots of messy exploration with unique materials, and beautiful artwork that kids are proud of. Children’s wellbeing is at the center of everything that happens at Art Cafe – this is their space.
What do you like to do as a mom to unwind in Union County?
- Cory: I really had to think about this one because as a mom of 2 and a small business owner, there isn’t a ton of time for unwinding! But I do prioritize my mental and emotional health by meditating and practicing breath work daily – that’s my day to day unwinding.
- Esther: I like to visit small coffee shops! I love to see what they’re about and sample the coffee. I’m a big fan of Queen City Roasters in Plainfield, Black Drop Coffee in Scotch Plains, and Halo Roasters in Springfield.
