Rhonda Dunaway
10-02-2008, 08:05 PM
Pump It Up (http://pumpitupparty.com)Is Coming to
Midtown Omaha in October!
A new bounce and play place is coming to Omaha! Pump It Up, located at 960 South 72nd Street (about a block north of Pacific), is scheduled to open on October 18th. They are currently accepting bookings for parties and business functions.
Touring the Site
I recently met with owner and Chief Entertainment Officer, Kim Hodges, to talk about Pump It Up and to tour the building site. Although the building’s interior was still under construction at the time of my visit, it appeared impressive. The 15,000 square-foot space will house two huge play arenas, three private party rooms (two of which can be opened into one large room), a sitting area with a television and vending machine, and a reception area. The play arenas will feature a variety of super-sized inflatables, including slides, a basketball bounce, an obstacle course, a “slippery slope” that offers an uphill climbing experience and a rock-climbing wall. The party rooms are very bright and appealing and spacious enough to accommodate not only large birthday parties but functions such as corporate team building and training sessions.
How They Got the Idea
After my tour, Kim and I chatted some more, and she introduced me to her husband, Roger, who is her partner in this venture. Although the couple is originally from Omaha, they have spent the last ten years living in Arizona. About a year ago, Kim and Roger returned to Omaha in order to be closer to family and friends. When I asked Kim what motivated her to open a Pump It Up franchise here, she explained that she had first become acquainted with Pump It Up when she lived in Arizona and her daughters had been invited to birthday parties that were hosted at a franchise there. When Kim and her husband decided to come to Omaha, she did some additional research on Pump It Up and was impressed with the franchise’s format and its emphasis on safety and cleanliness. According to Kim, Pump It Up has been endorsed by Clorox as being “Clorox Clean.” The standards for cleanliness at Pump It Up meet the high standards of Clorox.
Because Kim and Roger have three young daughters (Morgan age 9, Emily age 6 and Grace age 3), they were also searching for a family-friendly business opportunity. When the couple realized that owning a Pump It Up franchise would not require much out-of-town travel and that they would be able to take their daughters to work when necessary, their decision was made.
Special Nights for Kids with Autism
Kim also told me that Pump It Up has a special relationship with the Autism Society of America and that her franchise will be working very closely with the Autism Society of Nebraska. Pump it Up will offer sensory nights for families who have children on the autism spectrum. These nights will be open only to those families. There are also plans to organize times when parents will be able to meet in support groups while their children enjoy some play therapy. To learn more about the partnership between the Autism Society of America and Pump it Up, visit www.bounceforautism.org (http://www.bounceforautism.org/).
Open Bounce Times
In addition to parties, Pump It Up will also offer a variety of open bounce times when kids and family members can bounce and play. Open bounce times for preschoolers will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. An open bounce time for school-age kids will be offered on Wednesday afternoon, and a family bounce time will be offered on Tuesday evenings. Reservations are not required for open bounce times. Admission is $7 per child; adults can bounce with their kids for free. For safety reasons, children must be at least 24 months old and at least 34 inches tall to play on the inflatables. When I asked Kim about an upper age limit, she told me that none exists and that Pump It Up is for everyone from age 3 to age 93. For more information about private parties or open bounce times, you can visit, Pump It Up’s website at www.pumpitupparty.com (http://www.pumpitupparty.com/) or call 402-932-PUMP (7867).
Midtown Omaha in October!
A new bounce and play place is coming to Omaha! Pump It Up, located at 960 South 72nd Street (about a block north of Pacific), is scheduled to open on October 18th. They are currently accepting bookings for parties and business functions.
Touring the Site
I recently met with owner and Chief Entertainment Officer, Kim Hodges, to talk about Pump It Up and to tour the building site. Although the building’s interior was still under construction at the time of my visit, it appeared impressive. The 15,000 square-foot space will house two huge play arenas, three private party rooms (two of which can be opened into one large room), a sitting area with a television and vending machine, and a reception area. The play arenas will feature a variety of super-sized inflatables, including slides, a basketball bounce, an obstacle course, a “slippery slope” that offers an uphill climbing experience and a rock-climbing wall. The party rooms are very bright and appealing and spacious enough to accommodate not only large birthday parties but functions such as corporate team building and training sessions.
How They Got the Idea
After my tour, Kim and I chatted some more, and she introduced me to her husband, Roger, who is her partner in this venture. Although the couple is originally from Omaha, they have spent the last ten years living in Arizona. About a year ago, Kim and Roger returned to Omaha in order to be closer to family and friends. When I asked Kim what motivated her to open a Pump It Up franchise here, she explained that she had first become acquainted with Pump It Up when she lived in Arizona and her daughters had been invited to birthday parties that were hosted at a franchise there. When Kim and her husband decided to come to Omaha, she did some additional research on Pump It Up and was impressed with the franchise’s format and its emphasis on safety and cleanliness. According to Kim, Pump It Up has been endorsed by Clorox as being “Clorox Clean.” The standards for cleanliness at Pump It Up meet the high standards of Clorox.
Because Kim and Roger have three young daughters (Morgan age 9, Emily age 6 and Grace age 3), they were also searching for a family-friendly business opportunity. When the couple realized that owning a Pump It Up franchise would not require much out-of-town travel and that they would be able to take their daughters to work when necessary, their decision was made.
Special Nights for Kids with Autism
Kim also told me that Pump It Up has a special relationship with the Autism Society of America and that her franchise will be working very closely with the Autism Society of Nebraska. Pump it Up will offer sensory nights for families who have children on the autism spectrum. These nights will be open only to those families. There are also plans to organize times when parents will be able to meet in support groups while their children enjoy some play therapy. To learn more about the partnership between the Autism Society of America and Pump it Up, visit www.bounceforautism.org (http://www.bounceforautism.org/).
Open Bounce Times
In addition to parties, Pump It Up will also offer a variety of open bounce times when kids and family members can bounce and play. Open bounce times for preschoolers will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. An open bounce time for school-age kids will be offered on Wednesday afternoon, and a family bounce time will be offered on Tuesday evenings. Reservations are not required for open bounce times. Admission is $7 per child; adults can bounce with their kids for free. For safety reasons, children must be at least 24 months old and at least 34 inches tall to play on the inflatables. When I asked Kim about an upper age limit, she told me that none exists and that Pump It Up is for everyone from age 3 to age 93. For more information about private parties or open bounce times, you can visit, Pump It Up’s website at www.pumpitupparty.com (http://www.pumpitupparty.com/) or call 402-932-PUMP (7867).