It’s that time of year again. Kids are bouncing off the walls inside because it’s too cold to play outside. So what’s the solution? A new Otsego business just might have the answer you’re looking for.
Shawn Thompson, Sr and his son, Shawn Jr. opened up Jump City this past fall as a lifelong dream.
“My wife and I always rented out inflatables. She passed away in a car accident in 2004 [leaving Shawn Sr. a single dad of three children] and having an indoor place was always a dream,” Shaun Sr. said.
Now that dream is a reality, thanks, in part, to the new generation’s tenacity. When his son, Shawn Jr. was 14 he had saved up money to buy a racing bike but instead surprised his dad by suggesting buying a bounce house instead noting that he wanted the family business to go on.
Three years later, both Shawn’s have worked tirelessly to remodel an old truck repair building into their dream bounce house play place. “We had to de-grease the place and get really good flooring,” Shawn Sr. said of the 6,000 square foot facility located right off 101 and Queens in Otsego.
The pair thought of everything from parent viewing areas that include wi-fi and the NFL channel to party rooms to a separate toddler area. And of course knew just how important cleanliness is. “We are constantly cleaning,” Shawn Sr. said.
“Building this place was awesome. It brings tears to my eyes,” Shawn Sr. said.
Inside the warehouse looking building are up to seven different jumpers, games to play and plenty of space for kids to run and get all that pent up winter energy out. Aside from the seven inside, Shawn’s Bounce House rentals offers other bounce houses for rental.
All three of Shawn Sr.’s kids work at Jump City including some additional staff they’ve hired and everybody does everything. From cleaning to ringing, it’s all hands on deck.
Shawn Jr. will graduate from Rogers High School this spring and then begin school for Law Enforcement in August.
“The goal is to give back to the community through donations and random acts of kindness and also to just keep expanding. Every day we are thinking of ways to make it better,” Shawn Sr. said.
Jump City is located in Otsego at 5889 Queens Avenue. You can’t miss the signs off 101.
Check their website for hours and pricing information. They are also on Facebook and you can currently enter to win a free birthday party by liking their page.
