Our House Baltimore opens as community cafe for young children, caregivers

In a city where parents of infants and toddlers often have to choose between a pricey children’s venue and a cafe that is not built for strollers, Our House Baltimore is opening at 1920 Greenmount Ave. as a different kind of third place. The new community cafe and play space is designed for children ages 0 to 5 and the caregivers who stay with them, with a model that blends hospitality, early-childhood programming and neighborhood support under one roof.

The official opening will unfold in two parts in early May. On May 1, Our House will hold an adults-focused ribbon cutting from noon to 1 p.m. with light fare, wine and champagne, a thank-you to the supporters who helped bring the project to life. The next day, May 2 from 10 a.m. to noon, the space will host what it describes as a fancy play date, centered on play, creativity and connection for families.

Our House is located in Greater Greenmount, and its structure reflects the reality of Baltimore caregiving. Posted family play hours run Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again from 3:30 to 6 p.m., with Saturday family hours from 9 a.m. to noon. Coffee, pastries and retail are available Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Saturday cafe and retail hours ending at 12:30 p.m. The organization says caregivers must remain with children at all times, and that the play area is not a daycare or co-working space.

Pricing is aimed at making the space more accessible than a typical children’s entertainment business. A day pass costs $19 for one child and unlimited adults. Families using SNAP, Medicaid or WIC can buy a $9 day pass in person. Children under 6 months are free, siblings are $9, and presale memberships are listed at $180 for one month, $360 for three months and $730 for a year. Our House says scholarship support is available for families in need.

Founder Dr. Maureen Nicol, who has a doctorate from Columbia University, spent two years conducting focus groups and piloting programs with early-childhood facilitators, coffee shops and families before opening the space. The project says it will offer art, storytelling, STEAM and social-emotional learning, along with caregiver circles, a diaper pantry and a community fridge. Promise Venture Studio said the project had raised about $275,000 through crowdfunding, local donors and micro-grants, while the IFundWomen campaign set a $60,000 goal.

The larger pitch is not just play, but belonging. Our House says it is building a beautiful, safe and welcoming space for families of color in Baltimore, with cultural affirmation and caregiver well-being at the center. If the model holds, it could become a template for other Baltimore neighborhoods where families still struggle to find a low-friction place to gather, connect and stay awhile.