After nearly three years of creating a place where children could play, explore, celebrate and make memories, Melissa Carreiro, owner of Little Wanderers Sensory Play, has announced that December will be the business’s final month in its current location.
In an emotional statement shared with the community, Carreiro said the decision was incredibly difficult and emphasized that closing is not a reflection of her belief in the business or the families it has served.
Carreiro cited ongoing issues with the building and property, along with the broader challenges of operating a small business, as factors that ultimately made it too difficult to continue in the current space.
Despite the heartbreak surrounding the decision, Carreiro said she is proud of what she built and made it clear that Little Wanderers’ closing is not the end of her journey.
“Because I didn’t fail. I tried. I fought. I built something from the ground up. And I gave it everything I had,” she wrote.
She also reassured families that while December marks the end of Little Wanderers in its current building, she is not finished dreaming, creating and finding ways to bring joy to children and families.
The announcement has also served as a thank-you to the families who helped make Little Wanderers what it became. Carreiro expressed gratitude to those who attended events, purchased memberships, celebrated birthdays, shared posts, recommended the business and supported her along the way.
With several months remaining, Carreiro is encouraging families to continue visiting and making memories at Little Wanderers before the doors close for the final time.
“This isn’t goodbye just yet,” she wrote. “It’s simply the closing of one chapter… and someday, I hope to tell you all about the next one.”
Melissa Carreiro’s original statement:
“I’ve been holding onto this post for a while because, honestly, I don’t even know how to put this into words. 💔
After almost 3 years of pouring my heart, soul, time, money, and so much love into Little Wanderers Sensory Play, I have made the incredibly difficult decision that December will be our last month.
This is NOT because I stopped believing in Little Wanderers. Quite the opposite. This place means so much to me and to the families who have walked through those doors. I have watched littles grow, celebrated birthdays, made friendships, created memories, and built a space that I truly believed could make a difference.
But the reality is… the building I am in has simply not worked for my business. The ongoing issues with the building, the challenges that come with the property, and the overall environment have made running a successful business incredibly difficult. Add in the struggles of keeping a small business going in today’s world, and it has taken a toll on me that I can no longer ignore.
I have fought for this place for almost three years. I have tried to make it work. I have pushed through things that probably would have made many people walk away long before now.
But sometimes loving something isn’t enough to make the circumstances around it work.
And that is the hardest part of all. 💔
I am heartbroken. I’m scared. I’m sad. I’m frustrated. And I’m also proud.
Because I didn’t fail. I tried. I fought. I built something from the ground up. And I gave it everything I had.
So please don’t look at this as the end of my story. December is the end of Little Wanderers in this building. What comes next, I’m not completely sure yet. But I know I’m not done creating, dreaming, or finding ways to bring joy to children and families.
To every single family who has supported me, brought your babies through those doors, celebrated with us, attended an event, bought a membership, shared a post, recommended us to a friend, or simply cheered me on from the sidelines…
THANK YOU. ❤️
You have no idea what you have meant to me.
We still have several months left together, and I intend to make every single one count. So please come play, make memories, celebrate, and soak up these last months with us.
This isn’t goodbye just yet. ❤️
It’s simply the closing of one chapter… and someday, I hope to tell you all about the next one.”
