EL CENTRO — Families in the Imperial Valley will soon have a new place for children to play, explore, and spend time together as Candeeland prepares to open an approximately 8,000-square-foot indoor playground at the Imperial Valley Mall.
The family entertainment business is aiming to open around Aug. 15 or 16, although Regional Manager Armando Chavez said an exact date cannot yet be confirmed as crews finish work on the facility’s flooring.
“We are shooting for an opening close to the 15th-16th of this month, but it’s hard to give an exact date because we need the floors to be finished,” Chavez said.
Until then, the company is directing families to its social media pages for announcements and updates as opening day approaches.
For the company, bringing the concept to El Centro is part of a broader effort to establish locations in communities where families may have fewer entertainment options.
“The owner specifically likes doing these stores and just in general building in areas that don’t tend to have a lot,” Chavez said.
Candeeland operates as a franchise, and the owner behind the El Centro location previously opened a location in Texas. Another location opened in Modesto, California, and a Bakersfield location is also planned, Chavez said.
While preparing for the El Centro location, Chavez said conversations with local residents reinforced the idea that Imperial Valley families were interested in seeing something new come to the area.
That became particularly noticeable while the company was conducting interviews at the Imperial Valley Mall. Chavez observed families regularly using the mall as a place to spend time with their children, including the small play area and carousel near the food court.
“I probably saw like at least 100 families go through there throughout the day,” Chavez said.
The observation helped demonstrate the demand for family-centered spaces and activities, he said.
Candeeland hopes to become another option for those parents — particularly one where children can play while parents remain involved.
Unlike some indoor playgrounds where adults have limited access to play structures, Chavez said Candeeland’s main structure is designed so parents can enter with their children.
“They can go in there and keep an eye on their kids,” he said.
That ability to participate is part of the atmosphere Candeeland hopes to establish. Chavez said staff members want first-time visitors to understand how the playground works while also creating a welcoming environment that encourages families to return.
“We definitely like making people feel like family when they come in,” Chavez said.
Safety will also be a major focus at the El Centro location.
Before entering the play area, guests will be asked to complete safety waivers. Some equipment is intended for particular age ranges, and children will be required to use grip socks while playing.
The socks are intended to reduce slipping as children move through the playground, including areas with inclines and epoxy flooring. Adults entering the structures will be required to wear socks and may also use grip socks if they choose.
Chavez said maintaining a safe environment requires more than establishing rules when a location opens. Staff will continue observing how children interact with the equipment and look for ways to improve safety.
“Kids are kids,” Chavez said. “They’re always gonna find ways to figure out how they shouldn’t use something.”
For that reason, he said, the company wants parents to know their children’s safety is continuously being considered.
Beyond everyday play, Candeeland plans to incorporate special events and activities throughout the year.
Character and mascot appearances are among the events that have been popular at the company’s Modesto location, Chavez said. Other possibilities include arts and crafts, neon and glow-in-the-dark days, and holiday celebrations.
With Halloween approaching shortly after the anticipated opening, Candeeland is already considering activities that could provide children with another safe environment for trick-or-treating and celebrating the holiday.
However, Chavez said programming at the El Centro location will ultimately be shaped by the interests of Imperial Valley families.
“We definitely want to get to know what the area specifically likes,” he said.
That community-centered approach will be important as Candeeland establishes itself in the Valley and becomes familiar with returning families.
For Chavez, the opening also comes at a time when he sees broader changes happening in El Centro and at the Imperial Valley Mall.
“I definitely see that the area is growing a lot — a lot of people, a lot of businesses,” Chavez said. “So I think we’re just excited to just take part in that expansion.”
He also pointed to efforts to modernize the mall and bring new activity into the shopping center.
“For the families that have been waiting and looking for something new in the area, especially in the mall,” Chavez said, Candeeland hopes to become part of that change.
As the approximately 8,000-square-foot park moves closer to completion, Chavez said the company will continue directing guests to its social media accounts for the latest opening-day announcements.
Readers can follow Candeeland El Centro on Instagram and Candeeland El Centro on TikTok for updates as the opening approaches.
For Chavez, the goal extends beyond simply opening another indoor playground. Candeeland hopes to create a place where local children can play, parents can participate, and families can return to build memories together.