Today we’d like to introduce you to Libby Azzarello.
Hi Libby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My husband Mark and I moved to Raleigh totally sight unseen from the DC area. We were over all the hustle and bustle and traffic and wanted to find a fun, welcoming place to start a family. Two days after our honeymoon, we moved and started our lives in the Triangle! I became an entrepreneur (real estate) shortly after moving, and a few years later Mark decided to pursue life outside the corporate world as well. I told him at that point, if he did something fun that I would do it with him, and if he did something boring that he was on his own. We met with a few consultants, interviewed local businesses and landed on opening a second location of a local favorite, Bumble Brews. At the time we had a 2 year old who absolutely loved playing there. It was an inclusive and fun environment for kids but also adults (featuring coffee, beer and wine). It was fun to let her explore safely while we met other people in the area. We opened the Raleigh location in December of 2023 on Oberlin, just blocks up from where we lived when we first moved here. We were quickly woven into the fabric of the Village District area, and met so many amazing children and families the first few years. We hosted birthday parties, special events, community partnerships & charity drives. In July 0f 2025 (now with a 4 year old and 6 month old), we purchased the original Cary location of Bumble Brews. It has been a fun journey bringing them both under one roof, putting our spin on the menu and play space and connecting with new families in that area.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Mostly, thankfully yes. We found an ideal space very easily, had great partners in our licensing agreement learned to work well together as husband and wife (with small kids). However, the week we were due to open in Raleigh, we unfortunately experienced a miscarriage. I spent the night in the ER Monday and we opened our doors Friday of that same week. The friends and network that I had made showed up in the most special way that week, all banding together to bring food, sew curtains, build and organize toys and prep for our opening day. We also experienced a plethora of hardship in 2024 while trying to manage and grow our new business. I lost my brother, we had a tree fall on our house and I totaled my car that same week. On the bright side, we welcomed a new baby girl at the end of that year. It is incredibly trying to be an entrepreneur through the ups and downs of your personal life, but owning a local small business has only given us a wider support network and more loved ones to help us when times are hard.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are an indoor children’s play space geared toward ages 0-5. We have a full espresso bar, local beer, wine & seltzers, as well as a wide selection of non-alcoholic drinks. We host birthday parties, special events and have Open Play every day of the week. We are super proud of our ties to the community and hope to be a space where people can meet, build relationships and feel at home.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I find that if you go in with an open mind about what you want to receive, while also coming prepared with questions specific to that person’s expertise, both parties feel like there is ease and value. I always like to hear others’ full story leading up to where they are now, even if we aren’t in the same industry or don’t have the same goals. I think there are bits of advice and skills you can learn from people across the board and compile them to create your perfect scenario. I also love to be able to have a full list of people that I can refer to and connect others with when the need arises. Setting expectations up front and being cognizant of how much you are asking of the other person is super helpful too.
Pricing:
- Open Play- $10, $8 for siblings
- Corporate Sponsored Open Play (prices vary)
- Birthday Parties (prices vary)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bumblebrewsplaycafe.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bumblebrews
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/bumblebrews
