Schaumburg firm pumped up for parties
The owners of a new Schaumburg business have pumped a lot of energy into their venture.
Joyce Meredith and Veronica Boyd and their husbands launched Pump It Up, a children's party facility filled with large inflatable obstacle courses, slides and bounce houses. The indoor playground is at 1230 N. Roselle Road, just west of Golf Road, across from Babies 'R' Us.
The franchise is designed to accommodate children's birthday parties, team outings and field trips.
Two indoor play arenas fill the business, along with a party room for cake and pizza. The children spend 40 minutes in each of the supervised areas. There are 10 inflatable structures, as well as a rock-climbing wall.
The business opened Dec. 1. Previously, the two women worked together at Allstate in Northbrook for nearly 22 years.
The business partners attended a party at another Pump It Up franchise and were fascinated with the concept. They began checking into the franchising process. The timing was perfect when they were offered voluntary buyout packages from Allstate.
Boyd, who was Meredith's manager at the insurance company, said "we saw it as an awesome opportunity to do something different."
The inflatable party zone is colorful and clean. Trained staff supervises the children after a safety video is shown.
Pump it Up, headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif., has more than 160 locations, including ones in Vernon Hills, Crystal Lake, Lisle and Elmhurst. New centers are coming to Round Lake, St. Charles and Plainfield.
Pump It Up often locates its play centers in industrial rather than commercial buildings because of cheaper rents and the need for high ceilings to house the equipment.
The owners of the new Schaumburg facility say their children have enjoyed the new business.
Joyce and her husband, Jessie, reside in Lombard and have twin 8-year-old sons, Jared and Jalen.
Veronica and husband, Derek, are raising two sons, Rasean, 4, and Rashad, 10, in Olympia Fields.
Veronica added that one aspect that drew her to the business is that children of all ages can enjoy the parties.
The average price for a two-hour party with up to 26 children is $295, Joyce said. "It's such a safe environment for kids," she added.
For more information, call (847) 885-7867 or check out www.pumpitupparty.com.
New hire: Amil Alkass recently joined Lavelle Law Ltd. in Palatine. Alkass, the ninth attorney in the firm, is expected to focus primarily on matters of family law in the practice owned by Kerry Lavelle.
The firm, at 501 W. Colfax St., also has offices in Hoffman Estates, Lake Forest, Bensenville and Chicago.