Sheepshead Bay’s Masal Cafe To Open Massive Indoor Playground
Very soon, both kids and adults will be able to enjoy the famed Turkish cafe and dessert-haven on Emmons Avenue — just in time to beat those winter blues.
Masal Cafe, located at 1901 Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, posted these pictures on Facebook of a brand new, 2,000 square foot indoor playground complete with a full-sized jungle gym, a winding slide, giant blocks, and a foam puzzle-piece floor. We spoke to the manager, who said that there are more fun plans on the horizon, like a floor-to-ceiling projector with games for kids ages 5 to 12.
“We’ve had the play area in our mind for a long time,” said a manager, the cafe was just waiting for the right time to rent the extra space.
The playroom connects to another 2,000 square feet of cafe space with towering arched entry ways, ample seating, and elegant chandelier lighting.
“Masal Cafe is going to have biggest kids playground in NYC,” said the cafe on Facebook.
Take a virtual tour below:
Thousands of neighbors are abuzz about the play area, based on the 4,000 views on Facebook and dozens of excited comments.
Although the play area looks ready, there is more work going on behind the scenes. The manager told us the room should open in about 2-3 weeks.
The beloved Masal Cafe has been called the granddaddy of Emmons Avenue’s Turkish cafes. Masal revived the once-struggling Lundy’s building with a vibrant, sprawling cafe, and introduced neighbors to the gut-busting kumpir – the decadent, Turkish version of a loaded baked potato.
But the cafe also has an expansive dessert menu filled with Turkish and Italian treats, classic cakes, and more. Our favorites are the various coppas – the gelato-based sundaes that cap off any summer day, and the loaded waffles.
The new indoor playground will open only a few months after the cafe was raided by FBI. The bureau removed computers from the restaurant, as well as conducting a raid on the cafe owner’s home. The nature of the raid remains unclear, but Masal has had ties to the controversial Turkish Hizmet movement, an organization blamed for this summer’s coup attempt in Turkey.
Sheepshead Bites/BKLYNER reached out to owner Selahattin Karakus in late October, but he declined to comment.
We will be following the playground’s progress, and keep you updated on its opening date.
