Meet Sarah Kobin

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Kobin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Hi Sarah, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience, for me, comes from a mix of faith, family and the community that Sunshine Play Café serves every single day. As a mom of three young kids I knew the need for a place like this long before I opened our doors. Parents in Richmond, KY didn’t have many family-friendly things to do where both kids and adults could feel at home. I dreamed of creating a space where children could enjoy imaginative play in a safe indoor playground while parents could relax with a handcrafted latte inside a cozy café with a play area. That vision is what carried me through the risks and the doubts.

When we first launched, there was a lot of education required. Our market wasn’t familiar with the concept of a play café and there was skepticism around pricing. This industry is expensive to run and it is impossible to please everyone. Over time I have learned to let go of trying to win over every single person and instead place value in the worth of what we offer. Sunshine Play Café is more than a play space. It is a community hub where families celebrate birthdays, enjoy open play or stop in on their way through Kentucky to stretch their legs, imaginations and wiggles while grabbing a quick family-friendly bite to eat. The families who show up and support us remind me daily why this work matters.

Some of the most impactful moments have been hearing the stories of our guests. Parents have shared with tears in their eyes that Sunshine Play Café has literally changed their lives. So many first-time moms come to us lacking community, lacking a village or needing more support, especially in the years following COVID when isolation was at its peak. To know that our space has helped meet those needs is what builds my drive and fuels my resilience. I show up for them because I know the impact is real.

I have also had to build resilience through the behind-the-scenes parts of business ownership. Balancing life as a full-time homeschool mom, stay-at-home mom and full-time business owner has stretched me in ways I never imagined but it has also sharpened me. Automations, operating systems and workflows allow me to use my time wisely and I lean on an incredible staff and manager who bring their own creativity and dedication to our café. These pieces along with intentional self-care through reading, devotionals, church involvement and family time help me lead with clarity and strength.

At the core, I am steadfast in my belief that Sunshine Play Café is a God-given mission. My resilience does not come from me alone. It comes from trusting that God gave me the calling and the tools to do this work. That conviction has kept me grounded in moments of challenge and given me joy in the seasons of growth. Watching children smile, seeing parents relax and knowing we are creating lifelong memories in our little corner of Richmond, KY is proof that resilience pays off.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the founder and owner of Sunshine Play Café in Richmond, KY, a family-owned indoor play café that combines a safe, imaginative indoor playground with a cozy café serving handcrafted coffee drinks and family-friendly bites. Our mission is simple but powerful: to create a place where kids can play, parents can relax and families can connect.

What makes Sunshine Play Café special is the way we blend play and community. Parents often tell us that our café feels like a “home away from home.” Kids love our wooden play structures, themed play areas and costumes, while parents appreciate having a space where they can sip a latte, catch up with friends or enjoy a quick meal while their kids are safely entertained. Beyond open play, we also host birthday parties in Richmond, KY, seasonal events like pumpkin painting and Friendsgiving, and camps and story times that keep kids engaged year-round.

One of the most exciting parts of our journey has been watching how Sunshine Play Café has become a true community hub. Especially after COVID, so many families were craving connection. Hearing stories from parents who tell us our space has given them friendship, support and a village is incredibly humbling and fuels everything we do.

Looking ahead, we are focused on expanding the ways we serve families. This includes continuing to grow our membership program, hosting more special events with beloved characters, and exploring opportunities to bring new play features and community partnerships into our space. We want Sunshine Play Café to be the first place families think of when they search for things to do with kids in Richmond or Lexington, KY, whether they are local or just passing through on I-75.

At the heart of everything, Sunshine Play Café is more than just a business. It is a God-given mission to create joy, community and connection for families.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are a true love of people and connection, drive and resilience, and a willingness to eat a lot of humble pie paired with grit. Sunshine Play Café was built on the belief that families in Richmond, KY needed a space to connect, and that love of people has carried me through every challenge. My resilience comes from both faith and determination, and grit has been essential on the days when things felt overwhelming or uncertain.

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that you cannot do it all alone. When I first started, I had to admit that I didn’t know everything about running a family-owned play café. What made the difference was learning to utilize resources, lean into community, and surround myself with a supportive network of experts in the field. There is no prize for doing it all by yourself. In fact, trying to go it alone often leads to burnout and overload.

My advice for anyone early in their journey is to seek out mentorship, ask questions, and get plugged into a community of people who have walked the road ahead of you. Whether that means joining professional groups, connecting with other entrepreneurs, or simply finding peers to brainstorm with, community is invaluable. Pair that with resilience, grit, and a love for the people you serve, and you will have the foundation you need to build something that truly lasts.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

In the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been building sustainability into Sunshine Play Café. After our first year of operation, this past year has been about finding our rhythm, strengthening our systems, and creating steady growth that will carry us through our busiest seasons. I’ve learned how important it is to build not just for quick success, but for long-term stability.

Personally, I’ve grown as a leader by learning to balance being a full-time homeschool mom and a full-time business owner. The key has been leaning on automation, streamlined workflows, and an incredible team who I can trust to run the café with excellence. That growth has given me the freedom to be present at home while still growing a business that serves families in our community.

Most importantly, the real growth I see is in impact. Families often share that Sunshine Play Café has given them community, friendship, and support they were missing, especially after seasons of isolation. Those stories remind me that growth is not just about numbers—it’s about people. And that is what keeps me moving forward with passion and purpose.

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