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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A husband-and-wife team is opening an indoor play space and toy lending library in Del Ray, built around a curated toy collection rather than the high-energy play venues the founders say the city already has plenty of.
Del Play will occupy about 2,600 square feet at 3108 Mount Vernon Ave., in a portion of the former Streets Market space. Founder Brittany Perna said the target is a December opening; the company's website says late 2026.
The concept came out of the founders' own search as parents.
"Del Play grew directly out of our own search for a calmer, toy-focused play option in the area," said Perna, a former elementary school teacher with master's degrees in education and special education who now leads data and product analytics for a multinational education technology company.
Her husband and co-founder, Costica Craciun, is a classically trained chef and executive sous chef at a Washington hotel. The couple are raising their child in Alexandria.
Del Play describes the gap it is aiming at plainly: Alexandria has no shortage of physical play venues but little for quieter, imaginative, toy-based play. The company frames the result as somewhere between a Montessori classroom and a neighborhood cafe.
Borrow, don't buy
The lending library is the piece that sets it apart. Members will be able to take toys home for up to two weeks, which the company pitches as a way for families to find out what a child actually likes before buying it.
That runs alongside consignment, secondhand sales and a toy recycling program in partnership with TerraCycle for broken or outgrown items. The stated goal is less clutter and less waste.
What's inside
The space will have a dedicated area for pre-walkers and some gross-motor play — a rock wall area and a loft with a slide — along with themed play areas. The collection focuses on ages 0 to 5, with plenty appropriate for children up to 10.
A small lounge will allow food and drink. Perna said Del Play is not a cafe but will sell bottled coffees and teas, juice boxes, milk and small snacks.
Also planned: private events and birthday parties in a dedicated party room, and free guided play sessions built around themes such as Lego or careers, plus story times.
Pricing
Drop-in play is set at $12.50 for children up to age 2 and $14.50 for ages 3 and up, with a 15% discount for members. No reservation is required.
A single-child toy rental membership is $45 a month. Memberships for two or more children range from $60 to $70 depending on household size. Private event rental is $450.
The founders chose Del Ray, they said, for its walkability, its concentration of young families and its cluster of other family-focused businesses.
More information and an email signup are at del-play.com.
