Be With Me Playseum recently opened in the Annapolis Mall, adding yet another entertainment-based option to its evolving lineup.

The Maryland-based chain bills itself as an indoor play venue designed for kids under 10 with an emphasis on education, creativity, and imagination. Activities include decorating cakes, conducting science experiments, making soap and spending time with live animals. The company says its goal is to engage all five of a child’s senses.

For Playseum’s founder, Gina Seebachan, the business is all about kids making memories with their loved ones. In 2006, her mother died unexpectedly, leading her to think about how she made memories with her own children.

“The heart (of it) was, could I endeavor to build a place that would just be so naturally inviting, where a child would honestly just want to grab their parents’ hand and say, ‘Mom, just come in here with me’?” Seebachan said. “I just wanted a place where parents could just be with their kids.”

It’s for that reason that Playseum, which opened in 2009, does not, and will not, do drop-offs. It’s a place specifically for parents and their children.

Playseum’s first location was in Bethesda, later moving to Easton. Other locations are in Columbia, and Minnetonka, Minnesota, Seebachan’s hometown. Though she has since moved, she lived in Annapolis for several years, with her kids going through Annapolis elementary and middle schools. She says she never fell out of love with the area, and after real estate investment firm Centennial purchased the Annapolis Mall last year, she thought it was a good opportunity to pursue a new outpost.

The Annapolis Mall Playseum, which officially opens Friday, has a castle-themed area, one that looks like a historic Annapolis tavern, and another based on a Caribbean food truck in honor of her husband’s heritage.

The attraction joins a handful of other Annapolis Mall tenants geared toward entertainment, a nationwide trend.

“This unique concept aligns beautifully with our vision of offering meaningful, family-centered experiences. It’s not just a place to shop — it’s a place to connect and make memories together,” said Mariah Michaud, general manager of Annapolis Mall. Michaud joined the mall earlier this year and advocated for its shift in focus.

Following this trend, the interactivity-focused Dick’s House of Sport, as well as a Dave and Busters, are expected to come to the mall.

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