Recently I was able to interview the owner of Bubkat Bounce, Greg Hayes, about his business and some of his plans. Bubkat Bounce offers rental bounce houses, obstacle courses, slides, inflatable games, BBQ catering, cakes and more. They’re located at Players Park Mini Golf in Clifton Park, where they also have bounce houses set up outside for family fun and entertainment. Bubkat Bounce is having their grand opening today at Players Park!
- How did you get the name “Bubkat Bounce”
for your company?
The name BubKat is an acronym taken from the names and
nicknames of our children. My son’s nickname is “Bubbie” and the
other three children in the family are Kaleigh, Autumn and Theresa. - What inspired the idea behind Bubkat Bounce and your location within Players Park?
I have managed small businesses since leaving
the military in 2006. As a veteran of tours in Iraq, I always told myself I
would do something fun if I was blessed to come home healthy. What could be
more fun then bounce houses! Our location at Players Park represented an
opportunity to learn while having fun, provides a central location for BubKat
Bounce to be able to offer back yard rentals throughout the capital district,
and gives us an opportunity to interact with the community on a daily basis.
Our location and cooperation with Rob Potter and Players Park allows us to
partner with an established and like minded company during start up phase;
which is invaluable. That cooperation will help ensure our company has a solid
foundation from which to grow. It also allows us to try our hand at developing
a menu of pub style fare prior to our opening indoor family entertainment
centers that will also feature our food. Three of our partners have a combined 20
plus years in the food industry. - What are the prices to bounce and for how long?
Players Park customers can bounce ALL DAY for $5! - Can parents bounce along with their kids on your inflatables?
Parents can bounce with their children in two of
our Players Park inflatables. They can also play with their children on our five-in-one sports inflatable which features tee ball, football, basketball, darts,
soccer and frisbee. Parents are also always allowed to enter any of our inflatables (even those in which they cannot actually bounce) to monitor their
kids - What types of events lend well to bounce house rentals?
Any event during which fun is mandatory!
Birthday parties, graduations, weddings, block parties, reunions, bar and bat
mitzvahs, corporate events and fund raisers. - Can you tell us about your weekly events, such as “Mommy Mondays” and “Toddler Tuesdays”?
Our weekly events are designed to allow parents
to spend quality time with their children at a price that will not hurt the
family budget. Mommy Mondays allows Mom’s to get a free hot dog for themselves
or their child during the lunch hour. Free with a $5 ALL DAY bounce pass.
Compared to an indoor center where something similiar would cost at least twice
that amount, I think we offer families a great value. There will be more daily
specials to come as the summer rolls out. - What kind of food is offered at Players Park?
Hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, double cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, onion rings and fries. Jalapeno coins, chicken sandwich specials, pulled pork sandwich specials and specialty burgers are coming in July.
- What is your favorite bounce inflatable you own?
I love them all, but right now I would have to
say the 32 foot obstacle course. It is just too fun to try to race the kids
thorugh that one. - Do you plan on expanding the company in any way in the near future?
Yes! We have the goal of opening a few locations
throughout the capital district within the next two years. We are looking for
the right location now to have our first indoor facility this Fall. - What can you tell us about your business partners, your wife and childhood friend?
My wife and I met when we were camp counselors for a
wildlife sanctuary back in 1992. We have been together ever since; we got
married in 1999 and the went off to college in Buffalo together. Then, when I
joined the US ARMY my wife moved overseas with me to Germany, graciously
putting her career on hold. I served two tours in Iraq and then we moved back
home to New York to start our Family. My partner, Craig Allen, and I have been
friends since we were three years old. We grew up two doors down from each other and
ironically as adults purchased homes in the same neighborhood of Schuylerville
many many years later. Craig has been with his wife Amanda Allen, our fouth
partner, for more than seven years. So, given our collective history we were born
to start a family business!
