04/16/2026
I’m Denise Mantz, owner of the Children’s Play Gallery. Over the past 12 years I have been privileged to work with an amazing team here at the gallery. We have all been blessed in more ways than we can count by the families and community we have been a part of during this time.
I am grateful for the friendships, connections and everyday miracles that are part of the fabric of The Children’s Play Gallery.
It is with a certain amount of sadness I am announcing it is time for me to retire. I have come to realize that I cannot give The Children’s Play Gallery the time and attention it needs to continue. I have decided rather than watch things slowly wear down, it is time for me to step away and give thanks for the time we had. I will be keeping the gallery open until the end of June as long as we are able to have staff for the hours we are open.
I would like to spend these last months as a celebration of the joy and connections built at the gallery. I am inviting everyone to visit in the next 2 months, use your play passes, visit with the staff, celebrate the time we had together.
I am hopeful that what started as the Children’s Play Gallery can continue on, whether it be someone or organization coming forward to take over and build on what was started, or if it is just in the friendship and community we built.
I am open to speaking with any person or organization that would be interested in what it would take to move forward with the gallery. If you are interested in more information, please contact me through the play gallery. I will post again soon any changes in hours, or more details on closing.
The Children’s Play Gallery had grown from an idea to a dream, bigger than I could have imagined, so I will always be grateful for the last 12 years.
Thank you,
Denise M. Mantz
