We’re so happy to meet you!
We are two moms on a mission to empower young people’s creativity — and give caregivers good coffee and a comfortable place to sit. This is where the Art Cafe story begins.
Hi! I’m Cory.
You can usually find me outside rolling paint balls down a slide or mixing even more glitter into my slime. I've spent the past 7 years researching the developmental benefits of child-led creative play, and I have become obsessed with the belief that children deserve the time and space to discover their own creative superpowers. Because one thing we know for sure is that all children have a natural drive to learn, and they learn most deeply when they are given autonomy to explore their unique interests.
Art Cafe is here to deliver endless opportunities for child-led, open-ended creative exploration. I'm so grateful to be bringing this dream to life and I hope you'll join us on this journey!
Co-founder
Mom of 2 in Westfield, NJ
MA in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University
Former researcher at the National Center for Children & Families and Zearn Math K-8
Executive board member of the Westfield Public Schools PTO, Lincoln Early Childhood Center
Hi, I’m Esther.
Over the past 15+ years, my professional journey has been grounded in Supply Chain & Operations where I spent most of my career in large corporations. I had some awesome roles and experiences but always felt something was missing. When people talked about passion, creativity, community — I thought, that’s for “others.” My roles were jobs, albeit important jobs.
As a parent, I saw how much joy came from simple moments: mess and color, curiosity, creativity, and obviously a good cup of coffee. I wanted to build something that combines what I love: art, community, and a welcoming space for children and caregivers. That’s Art Cafe - a place where kids are free to explore and caregivers feel seen, rested, inspired.
Co-founder
A mom of two in Westfield, NJ
MS in Mechanical Engineering & MBA from MIT
10+ years of operations and retail supply chain experience across multiple industries, specializing in consumer products
Proponent of women and girls in STEAM
