Just Kiddin' Playground opened its doors in 2022, and offers a safe and clean atmosphere for kids birthday parties, special events or just an afternoon out. Photo illustration by Ben Hensley and Cecilia Lopez

A newly opened kids’ indoor playground in Northwest Fresno is attracting children and parents alike.

Serghei Khachatourian and his wife Gohar opened Just Kiddin’ Playground in November 2022 shortly after having their second child. The couple had hoped to find a safe, clean indoor playground, but after finding local options somewhat limited, the pair decided to embark on opening a facility that would not only fit their needs, but also the needs of a quickly growing neighborhood and community.

“Fresno is a place where summers are super-hot, [and] winters are usually cold…so whenever there’s a birthday party it’s always nice to have a place indoors,” Khachatourian said. “We offer, basically, a peace of mind for parents to have a nice birthday party environment for their kids.”

Khachatourian grew up in the same neighborhood. His mother owns nearby A Feliche Inc. — a women’s boutique that has been open for 30 years. He said the area always had ample parks and outdoor green spaces, but lacked the facilities of an indoor, air-conditioned playground.

The business saw almost immediate attention upon opening and continues to receive praise from customers thanking Khachatourian for the opportunity to give their kids a fun afternoon out — away from the blistering heat or cold winter rain.

The number of families in the surrounding area is still growing, especially recently, according to Khachatourian.

“Even on my block where I live, six or seven years ago there was hardly anybody going out on Halloween,” he said. “The last two years our block has been flooded with kids.”

Despite opening the business — a very hands-on business by nature — almost immediately after COVID-19 lockdowns and mandatory closures ceased, Khachatourian said that cleanliness was a priority long before the pandemic.

“Whoever has kids knows that whenever they go to school or preschool or daycare, they get sick so often,” he said. “Having a place like an indoor playground — it’s super important to keep a clean, sanitary place for parents to bring their kids.”

He added that they take it to the next level; their entire facility is white, which displays any mess much more prominently than other interior design concepts.

The business also has a third-party cleaning service that comes in weekly, on Mondays, to give the entire facility a deep clean.

“Those are the steps we take to make sure that we have a clean environment for everyone,” he said.

Khachatourian added that Just Kiddin’ Playground’s website outlines the company’s hygiene rules and cleaning procedures.

With an extensive hygiene policy, there was little concern that COVID-19 would play an immediate impact in opening the business.

“No apprehension at all,” he said. “Of course, on our end as business owners…we had to make sure that we let the community know that we are doing everything we can to offer a safe and clean environment.”

Khachatourian, like many business owners who opened their businesses for the first time after the pandemic, said that the business opening was a symbol to the community as a whole.

“We all know what we went through during COVID,” he said. “After COVID, I’m sure it was like a breath of fresh air for everybody to see places like ours, and not just ours — there are tons of new businesses [that opened] after COVID.”

And Khachatourian is pleased to see the Pavilion West Shopping Center — a place that he has called home for most of his life — continue to thrive.

Eventually, Khachatourian hopes to expand the business, already considering a second location in another part of Fresno or Clovis. Despite his current his staff of five employees focusing the efforts on supporting their current clientele, Khachatourian said that the business would entertain the idea of expanding should the opportunity arise.

“If we can get continued support I think a second location is a no-brainer at the right time,” he said.