The owners of the Kidsaurus Play Centre say they’re ‘devastated’ with the news that they will have to leave their Chestergate home.
Over the last four decades, the centre, formerly named Alphabet Zoo, has delighted generations of children - and tested youngsters' bravery with the infamous blue and white slide.
Shabana Razzaq and husband Asim have owned the Stockport institution for the last five years — but had to close for 17 months due to Covid restrictions.
The couple say the news has been met with ‘sadness’ by customers.
“It’s been here for 38 years,” Shabana, 43, said. “I think it was one of the first to open, it was Alphabet Zoo first.
“The reaction [has been] quite sad, to read those comments, and how sad they are, a lot came as a child.
“For three generations people have been coming here. It is such an ideal location with it being straight off the bus. There’s no other soft play centre nearby.”
The centre will have to close in January as Kidsaurus' owners say the building will be redeveloped — making it a race against time for the Razzaqs to find a new home.
Shabana continued: “We are looking high and low [for a new location]. We have got a great relationship and people are so sad.
“We were quite accommodating to people. We did a lot for charity, we helped the council with vulnerable parents.
The closure will be ‘hard financially’ for the family, and comes after a ‘difficult couple of years’, the Cheadle Hulme woman added.
When asked what the couple’s plans would be if they had to close, she said: “We are just going to have to put everything into storage which we do not want to do.
“We spent £17,000 to make it Covid-safe. Having to be told six months later that we are shutting, it is devastating.”
Fans reacted to the news on Facebook with dismay.
Hannah Anthony commented: “Absolutely gutted about this.
“Kidsaurus has been a sanctuary for me and my little girl over the past 4 years, a place for me to have an uninterrupted cup of tea while she blows off some steam!
“You are so wonderful and we love how close you are to the bus station! I hope you find a new location soon.”
Kate O’Brien also wanted to see the couple find a new home soon: “What a shame. There are so many vacant buildings around Merseyway are none of them available? Stockport needs you!”
