We were lucky to catch up with Suzette Reynoso recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Suzette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Tot Box Play Cafe, our mission is to create a welcoming space where little ones can grow and play, and where parents and caregivers—especially moms—can find connection, community, and support.

This mission is deeply personal. As a first-time mom with no extended family nearby, I quickly realized how isolating early motherhood could be. I craved a space where my child could safely play and socialize, but just as importantly, where I could feel seen, supported, and not alone. That’s when the idea for Tot Box was born—not just as a play space, but as a community hub for moms and families navigating the early years of parenting.

We believe that play is powerful, and that caregivers deserve just as much care and connection as the children they’re raising. Every part of our business—from the cozy seating to the curated local coffee, to our emphasis on hiring and uplifting local youth—is rooted in this mission. We’re here to be more than just a play cafe. We’re here to be a lifeline, a village, and a joyful part of your family’s story.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! I’m Suzette Reynoso-Bivens, the founder of Tot Box Play Cafe, a mom-owned indoor playground, coffee shop, and party venue located in Round Rock, Texas. Before launching Tot Box, I spent over a decade as a television news reporter and later served as a public spokesperson for a city in California. But everything changed when I became a mom.

As a new mother raising an only child without extended family nearby, I experienced just how isolating early motherhood can be. I found myself searching for a space where both my child and I could thrive—where my little one could safely explore and socialize, and I could recharge, connect, and be part of a community. When I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, I decided to create it—and Tot Box was born.

At Tot Box Play Cafe, we offer:

A modern indoor playground for children ages 0–6 designed to support imaginative, open-ended play.

A full coffee bar for parents and caregivers to enjoy while their little ones play.

Private birthday party packages that make hosting stress-free and beautiful.

Memberships and weekly play events that foster consistency, community, and connection.

Support for local mom-owned businesses through retail pop-ups, vendor markets, and collaborations.

What truly sets us apart is our heart-first approach. We’re not just a play space—we’re a village. We intentionally built a space that’s as supportive to parents as it is stimulating for children. Our team is trained to nurture and engage families, not just supervise play. We take pride in remembering names, celebrating milestones, and creating a warm, inclusive environment where everyone feels at home.

I’m most proud of the community we’ve built—one where moms can show up exactly as they are, kids can be their wild, wonderful selves, and meaningful connections happen every day. Whether you’re here for a quick coffee, a play session, or your child’s birthday party, we want you to walk out feeling seen, supported, and recharged.

For anyone just discovering us: Tot Box isn’t just a place to play. It’s a place to belong.

How did you build your audience on social media?

We built our audience on social media by staying true to who we are—real, raw, and relatable. From day one, we weren’t trying to be anyone else or fit into a polished mold. We shared our story, our mission, the behind-the-scenes of building Tot Box Play Cafe, and the highs and lows of being a small, mom-owned business. And people connected with that. They found us because we were just us—and that honesty created trust and community.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had what I thought was my dream career. I was on TV as an evening news anchor—on billboards, in commercials, living what many would consider a “successful” life. But behind the scenes, I was deeply unhappy and reaching burnout. I was constantly stressed, overwhelmed, and holding on only because I was terrified of being seen as a failure if I walked away from something I had worked so hard to achieve.

Eventually, my body forced me to listen. I landed in the ER covered in stress-induced hives. That was my wake-up call. I quit that job—with no plan—and walked away from the career I had spent years building. I moved back home and reset. Soon after, I took on a new role as a public spokesperson for my hometown, which felt purposeful and grounding.

Then the pandemic hit. I got pregnant, we moved away, and I was faced with another life-altering decision: leave my job to stay home and raise my daughter. It was not an easy choice—especially for someone who had always been driven by career success—but it turned out to be the most rewarding one. Being fully present for my daughter gave me the time and space to reflect on who I really was outside of work, and what kind of life I wanted to build.

That journey led me to create Tot Box Play Cafe—a space I once desperately needed as a new mom without a village. Now, I’ve built that village for others. Pivoting wasn’t easy. It was painful and scary and uncertain. But it brought me back to myself and helped me create something far more meaningful than I ever imagined.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.totboxplaycafe.com/about
• Instagram: @suzetterey_ @totboxplaycafe
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzette-reynoso-bivens-327ba264