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A new play space designed to entertain young children while giving parents room to relax could open at Tysons Corner Center this fall.

Tiny’s Corner Play Cafe is seeking permits to build an approximately 3,000-square-foot location on the mall’s second floor. The business will occupy Unit D9U in the former Lord & Taylor wing, next to United Barber and the planned Dick’s House of Sport.

Owner and co-founder Stella Borou said the opening timeline will depend on the permitting process. The concept pairs a cafe with a calm, upscale play environment featuring natural materials and warm, wood-focused design.

The play area will primarily serve children ages 1 through 9. Plans call for arts and crafts in a creative studio, sensory play, a curiosity lab, and an area where children can construct a city using blocks and other materials. Staff-led activities will repeat throughout the day, while children will also have opportunities for open-ended play.

Families will be able to make reservations or walk in, subject to available space. Admission will likely be based on the amount of time a child spends inside, although pricing and other details remain under development.

The cafe will operate separately and will not require play-area admission. An initial online menu lists coffee, hot chocolate, juices, pastries, baked goods, snacks and several child-friendly choices.

Borou, a Springfield resident and mother of two, said her experience as a working parent convinced her that Northern Virginia needed more spaces serving adults and children together.

She previously co-founded Mulberry Lane Play Cafe, a daycare and coworking concept that opened in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood in November 2024 before expanding to Southeast Washington last year. Tiny’s Corner, however, is intended as a distinct place for recreation and relaxation rather than daycare and work.

Borou said the Tysons idea developed after a conversation with Tysons Community Alliance leaders about the area’s growth and demand for more family-oriented destinations. A meeting at the mall helped her recognize how its steady flow of families could make a convenient play option valuable to parents.

She hopes the new venue will support children’s development through creative activities while providing an environment where their parents can unwind.