Storybook Village Play Space Gives Young Families a Place to Play in Auburn

Families visiting The Cenacle Bookstore and Cafe now have a place for children to play while parents drink coffee and browse books just in time for cold weather.
The business at 1304 Courthouse Ave. celebrated the opening of Storybook Village, a children’s play space, with an Auburn Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting Oct. 14.
Owners Dawn and Jamie Weiss turned an unused room into the play area with a $20,000 grant from the Amex Shop Small Grants Program, a partnership between American Express and Main Street America.
Dawn Weiss said the family learned about the grant from a chamber post shortly before applications closed.
“So we just quickly thought of what we wanted to do with this space that wasn’t used,” she said. “It didn’t have windows in it previously, and it just wasn’t a good space.”
The Cenacle was one of 10 Nebraska businesses selected. About 500 received grants nationwide.
The room features murals by Reagan Jordan, Dawn Weiss’ daughter, who owns White Studio and Gallery and Black Studio Tattoo in the same building. The building is part of the Auburn Creative District.
Assisting with the ribbon cutting was Auburn City Council member Nathan Seitz, who has a 1-year-old daughter. He said he expects his family will use it.
“It’s really nice to see this happen in Auburn,” Seitz said. “We really appreciate the reinvestment in our community.”
The Cenacle is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.