New ‘Play Cafe’ Coming to Long-Vacant Brookside Shop   Hümanette Caters to Families 

Jamie Hickey and her cousin, Claire Tully Markus, are friends, moms and now entrepreneurs.  

Their new Hümanette cafe is scheduled to open in late May or early June in the heart of Brookside. They plan to create a “parent-forward, child-focused” space. 

“We wanted to create an environment that was meant to be a place children can enjoy as well as grown-ups,” Hickey said. “Not your traditional bright colors, loud kids’ music.” 

Hümanette’s cafe will be open to the public serving coffee, small plates, snacks, beer, wine and mimosa.  

The breakfast menu will include avocado toast, and bagels and cream cheese. For lunch, look for protein bowls, grilled cheese on sourdough bread, and veggie wraps. Snacks will include a charcuterie plate. 

But parents and caretakers also can sign up for monthly or yearly memberships for its supervised children’s play area.  

They can use the visit to tackle business tasks and use chat rooms or coworking spaces. Or they can just take a break and socialize.  

Meanwhile, their younger children will be occupied with creative, physical and social-emotional activities. A lounge for older children will have a homework area, games, art supplies and other activities. 

Founding annual memberships start at $665 for one child and include unlimited open play, unlimited free drip coffee, a free beverage every month, a 10% discount on cafe purchases, and more. Monthly plans start at $60 for one child. Space will be available to host private events, including birthday parties. 

Hümanette also will have a small retail area selling toys and gifts.  

Hickey was an urban planner and then stay-at-home mom to Sloane, 5, and Graham, 3, and lives in Kansas City. Tully Markus lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, and has Leo, 3, and Anthony, 1.  

The women raised $41,600 in startup funds through Mainvest, a community investment platform.  

Hümanette will occupy the nearly 4,000-square-foot former Brookside Barkery & Bath space at 118 W. 63rd St.  

Brookside Barkery & Bath, which offers pet supplies and grooming services, moved to East Brookside in 2020.  

Joyce Smith has covered restaurants, retail and small businesses in the Kansas City area for nearly 40 years. Contact her at joyceinkc@gmail.com Follow her on X and Facebook at #JoyceKC, and Instagram and Threads at #joyceinkc  

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