Pink Flamingo Café is a haven for parents and kids
By: Emeri Glen | Photos by: Ashlee Glen
Conveniently situated in the middle of Forest Square Shopping Mall in Forest, Virginia, The Pink Flamingo Café welcomes parents, caregivers, and children to relax from the tedium of everyday worries.
Co-founder Rachel Queen fills the café with her welcoming presence and has made an impressive
effort to create an environment that caters to the needs and special circumstances of caregivers.
Upon walking in, customers are met with explosions of pink and green and several child-sized playhouses set in the back of the café. These include one-stop shops like Sutton’s Supermarket—of which Queen’s daughter is the namesake—a play hospital, and a sheriff’s office.
Equally as noticeable as these lifelike installations is the café’s mascot, a bird that holds a great deal of significance for Queen and Cheri Distefano, her business partner and mother.
Above the gentle noise of her daughter’s and son’s (Jet) play, Queen explained, “So, there’s this thing with flamingos… when they become parents, they actually turn white for like two to three years… because they’re giving so much of their nutrients to their chicks… I think a lot of moms and parents can relate to that, that in those early child-rearing years you give so much of yourself to your kids.”
A Liberty University graduate, Queen was a teacher for three years before deciding to stay home and take care of her children. The experience of personal struggle and sacrifice inspired Queen to create the Pink Flamingo Café as a response to the isolation and fatigue that many mothers and caregivers feel as a result of pouring out their love, time, and devotion for their children.
“I want customers to walk away feeling refreshed and equipped to tackle the day,” she explained.
Queen is supported by a beautiful family and her mom, who commutes regularly from her home in Maryland to help things run smoothly at the Pink Flamingo.
Apart from being bright, welcoming, and filled with swathes of pink, the café was thoughtfully geared toward imaginative playmaking. The play area features a slide, a plethora of themed toys, and ample opportunity for kids to use their imagination. The only prominent technology in the building consists of screens for menus and ordering purposes.
The Café partners with downtown Lynchburg business Father’s Bakery to bring customers delicious pastries (including gluten-free options) and also provides an assortment of snacks and specialty coffees.
As for the future, Queen would like to eventually franchise her business, and quipped that her father (a seasoned entrepreneur) liked the idea of her one day trying her luck on the reality TV series, Shark Tank. She also does content creation and has been toying with the idea of opening more locations if she continues to garner more exposure and success with her venture.
If you’re a parent or caregiver looking for a child-appropriate environment paired with delicious pastries and good coffee, look no further. More information can be found on the Pink Flamingo website at pinkflamingoplaycafe.com.
