FAQs

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Getting Here

  • Please navigate to 354 Merrimack St. They are large mill buildings In the riverwalk innovation campus at the North Andover/Lawrence line.  Parking is free—you can enter through Door A or Door C.    Door A is marked as the Salvatore’s Restaurant entrance.  Simply enter through the double doors and take the elevator to the third floor.  Then walk down the hallway (you’ll see the parking lot from the windows to your right) until you see a large mirror and bathrooms.  Our entrance at unit 341 will be right there!    Alternatively, if you park closer to Door C—enter at Door C and you will see mailboxes in the entrance and an elevator straight ahead.  Take the elevator to the third floor—then make a right out of the elevator until you see our door (unit 341) on your right and the giant mirror to your left.    Can’t find us? You can always give us a call at (978) 208-6079 and we’d be happy to help you!  Here's a video showing how to visit us through Door A. 

Ages and Pricing

  • STEMSpot is best suited for ages 7 and under, however, we leave it to the discretion of parents if their children ages 8-10 will enjoy the space. Children over the age of ten may not enter the play area and must remain in the café. We have activities for older children to borrow-read more here.

    STEM learning can start early and we have thought carefully about how to safely engage the curiosity and excitement that little ones have about figuring out the world around them. There are large gross-play structure oriented spaces in the area for older children as well, so we have purposefully decided to focus on this age group. Read our blog here about the benefits of STEM learning at an early age.

  • We have board games, card games, STEM activities, and craft supplies available for children over 7 who are accompanying younger siblings or friends to the space. Older children can borrow our “Explorer Bins” from our front desk and try the activities in the café just as adults may use the space for co-working. Children over 7 are welcome to choose one of our older kid activities and enjoy them on one of the tables in the café table. If the older sibling would like to assist their younger sibling or play more of helper role, they are welcome to be in the play area. We simply ask that if they’d like to play–they limit play to the café area so they can keep the play area safe for our younger guests.

What can we bring/not bring?

  • As parents, we know that figuring out what to eat can always be a fun adventure given whatever phase your kiddo is currently going through. We’ve got you covered—if you want to pack food that you know are winners for your kiddos, you’re welcome to bring them. Please just remember that we strive to be a nut-free facility, so please respect our community and check ingredients before you pack.

    We offer kid and parent friendly items at our café as well–view our menu here. We just ask that you don’t bring outside espresso/coffee drinks since we’ve worked hard to curate a café experience for you and would love for you to try what we offer! Also, please note outside cake, cupcakes or other large desserts cannot be served in our public café area for an impromptu party—imagine how hard it would be for other little guests to not get to share the sweet treats and festivities. Please check-out our birthday packages if you’d like to celebrate with us or reserve our “mini” package if you just want to play and cut cake with family. Guests that bring birthday items without booking will be asked to leave items in the car–and that’s just awkward and tough on your kiddo, so please do us a favor and don’t try to do a birthday without a reservation in our space.

  • Guests visiting without children are welcome to purchase a drink or snack to-go or swing-by to browse and shop our retail section for unique gifts. However, the STEMSpot seating/tables are designed as a safe space for children and their caretakers. Because of this, only guests accompanied by children can visit our playspace. The only exception is parents who are staying on-site during their child’s dance class at the dance studio located in our building above. They are welcome to come grab a café bar seating spot to work/enjoy their café drink while they wait for their child’s dance to finish. We reserve the right to kindly ask anyone to leave to make sure we have room for the customers we are designed to serve.

  • SOCKS: (preferably grippy ones!) All children AND adults are asked to wear socks in our play area to protect little ones from outside debris/germs.  We have cubbies for you to place your shoes.  If you forget your socks, we have options to purchase for $3/each.

    WATER BOTTLE: We have a filtered water refill station—so feel free to bring a water bottle to keep your little one hydrated.

    SNACKS.  We strive to be nut-free, so please do not bring snacks with nuts so we can protect all our friends.  You are welcome to bring other food or purchase items from our café menu.

  • TOYS FROM HOME: Please leave personal toys, blankets, stuffies in your bags.  Our materials follow safety guidelines and are sanitized—we cannot have new toys on the play floor as little ones are curious and will try to play with the new toy (even if it’s not theirs) and this can cause conflict, tears, and a liability issue for us!

    COFFEE/ESPRESSO BEVERAGES:  Please note-NO OUTSIDE BEVERAGES are permitted, as we do have a full coffee, espresso and tea menu.  We ask you let our awesome baristas make you something amazing instead of coming in with one of those “chain” coffees :). Trust us, we’ll make something you love!

Reservations and Cancellations

  • Our Café is open for you to work or enjoy a drink/snack daily.  See our app (links) or Instagram (link) or FB for updated hours.

  • You don't need a reservation to join us for a play session! However, to ensure a calm and safe environment, we limit our capacity. Reserving your spot ahead of time guarantees you'll be able to play. If we reach capacity, you're welcome to relax in our cafe area until space opens up in the play area. If the cafe is also full, we kindly ask you to wait in your car. We'll text you as soon as a spot becomes available. We understand how tough it can be for little ones to be turned away from play. To avoid tantrums and ensure your child's excitement is not ruined, please reserve your spot ahead of time. You can always cancel if something comes up. Let's make sure every visit is filled with smiles and laughter!

  • We totally get it! As parents, we know how plans can change in the blink of an eye. If something comes up and you can't make it, don't worry – simply cancel on our website or app, or give us a quick call to let us know you can’t make it. If you cancel, you will receive a voucher to play another day. If you do not cancel AND do not show, you will be charged the full price for admission, as it takes away the opportunity for another kiddo to reserve the spot and play. The purpose of this policy is to allow as many children in our community to play as possible, not to make money on cancellations, so please take a second to let us know if you can’t make it. Thank you!

  • At STEMSpot, the health and safety of all our guests is our top priority. We kindly request that if your child is unwell, displaying symptoms of illness, or has been recently sent home from school due to sickness, please refrain from visiting our playspace. We believe in creating a safe and healthy environment for everyone to enjoy. Coming to the playspace when sick can potentially spread illness to other children and families, and we want to avoid any unnecessary risk. We understand that sickness can't always be predicted. That's why we offer the flexibility to reschedule your open play reservation for another day at no extra cost.

  • Coming to the playspace when sick (even if not showing symptoms anymore) can potentially spread illness to other children and families, and we want to avoid any unnecessary risk. We reserve the right to ask if your child is visiting after being told by their daycare/school/childcare facility that they must stay home (e.g., for 24-hour fever free, for pink eye, lice, etc.). If we feel you have given your child medicine to conceal a fever or symptoms and are using our space as “back-up” childcare while home from school, we reserve the right to ask you to leave. We want to create a trusting, respectful community at STEMSpot–a big part of that is keeping each other safe.

    Zero Tolerance Policy:

    We have a zero-tolerance policy for individuals who knowingly bring children to STEMSpot when they have been asked to stay home by daycare and/or another childcare/school setting. We reserve the right to ask if your child is visiting after being told by their daycare/school/childcare facility that they must stay home (e.g., for 24-hour fever free, for pink eye, lice, etc.) and/or if you are using medicine to conceal a fever/symptoms.

    Please do not use STEMSpot as a “back-up” childcare venue when your child is not allowed to return to school/daycare. We appreciate your cooperation and trust our guests to be respectful and honest members of our community. Let's work together to prioritize the well-being of all our guests, and to ensure everyone can have a fun and worry-free experience at STEMSpot.

Rules/Policies

  • Shoes can be worn in the bathroom and café areas, however, we require socks in the play area for adults and children. You can wear your own grip-socks that keep you protected while playing, or you can purchase STEMSpot grip socks at our front desk. As for why–well, shoes can bring in dirt, debris, and small objects that could pose a hazard to little ones crawling on the floor. Also, in New England with our wide range of weather, we don’t want to be tracking in salt, slush, mud, etc! If you do not want to remove your shoes, you can still hang-out with your child in the café area but will not be permitted to enter the play area.

  • No, we're not a certified daycare or school and we do not offer childcare. Parental supervision is required at all times. Our space is dedicated to providing educational hands-on STEM activities and a cozy co-working café space for caregivers. Our highly trained staff are here to keep the space safe and help guide play when needed, but children are free to use the space with their caregivers as they would like, following their curiosity and interests.

  • Our space is designed with parents and caregivers in mind. From our café area and tables, you can keep an eye on your child at all times while you work or socialize with friends. Additionally, we offer seating options within the play area so you can stay close to young infants and toddlers.

    Please note that parents and caregivers are responsible for the safety and actions of their children while in our playspace. We provide a diaper changing station and extra supplies in our bathroom for your convenience.

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