A 3,000-square-foot space combining specialty coffee, a sensory sandbox and remote-control miniature construction vehicles is expected to open in September at 5354 McGinnis Ferry Road in the McGinnis Ferry Promenade shopping center.
Sand N Wheels Play Café's permanent sign is already mounted above the storefront, though windows remain covered and interior construction continues. The North Atlanta Star, which reported on the business Sunday, July 26, described it as the first "digger café" concept in the Atlanta area.
The centerpiece: a sand-filled arena where customers operate miniature excavators, bulldozers, crawlers and dump trucks by remote control. Players dig holes, move sand, create paths and load trucks. The RC arena is open to children, teenagers and adults, so parents can grab a controller and a latte and join in.
A separate sensory sandbox targets children ages 1 to 7, offering a calmer alternative to the flashing lights and climbing structures common at indoor play centers. Visitors must remove shoes and socks before entering.
The café side will serve espresso drinks and specialty lattes. Planned hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with seating arranged to give parents clear sightlines into the play space.
What it costs
All pricing is preliminary, per the North Atlanta Star report:
- Sandbox admission: $22 for up to two hours (two adults included), with a $5 sibling discount
- RC construction session: $12 per seat for 30 minutes
- Combo pass: $30 for sandbox admission plus an RC session
- Founding monthly membership: $50 per child ($35 per additional sibling), including daily sandbox access, guest passes, party and café discounts, and one specialty coffee per month
- Birthday parties: $275 for a smaller weekday event up to $745 for a larger weekend celebration with private play-area use, food and RC activities
Keeping it clean
The play area will use imported Baha play sand, regularly turned and treated. Toys will be sterilized with ultraviolet equipment, and continuous HEPA filtration will manage airborne dust. Throwing sand, bringing outside toys and burying other children are all prohibited.
A Forsyth County sign permit displayed on the storefront door was issued April 9. No specific opening date within September has been announced.
Residents can follow updates at sandnwheelsplaycafe.com or on the business's Facebook and Instagram pages (@sandnwheelsplaycafe).
