Seth Johnson
O2B Kids cut the ribbon on its 39th location on Tuesday evening just off of West Newberry Road, marking the sixth Gainesville location.
Andy Sherrard, co-founder of the company, said people get so involved with their work that they don’t take the time to celebrate successes
Sherrard said events like these remind him of big Gator football games when the players on the field make a huge play and the crowd rises and cheers as one.
“This is kinda like our touchdown moment,” he said. “It’s a moment we stop and we celebrate and we recognize the accomplishments we’ve made along the way.”
Inspired by a one-year world tour, the founders of O2B Kids opened their first location in 1998 just a few miles from Tuesday’s event. Since then, the company has spread throughout Florida with two Georgia locations.
The new location, called Newberry Park, will also boast a special addition to the playground. A natural, mulched area with tree stumps, a boulder and a balancing log.
Eric Godet, CEO of the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, said the O2B Kids location is an asset from the chamber’s perspective.
He said the community is experiencing growth like never before with brand new apartments popping up that are already full.
But the recent growth has shifted to young families instead of just seniors.
“One of the things that’s so important is to make sure we’re making investments for our youth, and that’s what’s happening here,” Godet said.
