New Family Experience Playland Makes Summer Camp an Everyday Thing in Dallas

A new immersive family store plans to open at The Hill this October. CAMP is a New York-based experience store that opened its first location in the Flatiron District in December 2018. The Dallas location will include a cafe, an interactive space for play, shopping and a theatre.

Founded by a group of parents with young kids who struggled to find a great place for kids and parents, CAMP is the first of its kind, offering play and product. The nostalgia of summer camp played a big part in creating the concept.

“We all went to camp as kids,” says CMO Tiffany Markofsky, “It was a place we could feel free and make new friends.”

This version of camp will offer the same welcoming vibe of a real summer camp, but with many more perks. Entry into the 13,000 square foot space is absolutely free. Anyone can come in, walk through the Magic Door, and explore.

“We’re serving in ways other retailers haven’t come up with,” Markofsky says.

The themed play area has everything from arts and crafts and a basketball hoop to a radio lab where kids can make their own music. Dallas will start out with the traditional Base Camp theme, but products and activities will be rotated every few months.

New York currently has Cooking Camp, Travel Camp, and a themed Elf Camp for the holidays. For the Base Camp theme in particular, you’ll be able to walk into a cabin with bunk beds and slide into another cabin with various merchandise. Products include books, backpacks, stickers, kits and even nostalgic toys like Silly Putty.

“The merchandise is set up theatrically,” Markofsky says. “Anything connected to the experience.” So that as you explore the space, you’ll run into products that relate to that space.

Separated into two distinct areas, the Magic Door will divide the Canteen from the interactive space. In Dallas, the Canteen will be an old school ice cream shop/soda fountain. There will be to-go snacks and more.

Lastly, there’s a theatre that offers programming from improv shows and storytelling to music. CAMP plans to work with small local businesses to bring in some of the best entertainers in the area, such as magicians or a puppet troupe.

And an extra perk for parents, the store has a Drop Off program like a Date Night & Pajama Party, where parents can drop their kids off in the evening (after the store closes) for a few hours and go to dinner and a movie. Kids will get to play and eat pizza.

CAMP is for ages 2 to 12. Classes and activities cost extra, around $20 to 25. CAMP Dallas plans to open in October.