Two area families teamed up to start a business that offers fun for birthday parties, barbeques and events of all kinds.
By Maureen Werther
Greg Hayes likes to say that he and his partners were, “born to start a family business.” BubKat Bounce has been in business since March of this year, owned and operated by Greg and his wife, Ruth Hayes and Greg’s childhood friend of thirty years, Craig Allen and Craig’s wife, Amanda Allen.Bubkat Bounce is the only New York company of its kind that is certified by two major industry watchdogs – SIOTO and Event Planners’ Association. Their certifications cover both the basic bounce houses – as they are called – and the more advanced inflatables, which include water slides, obstacle courses, and interactive games like jousting and dodge ball. “This is still not a regulated industry in New York State,” Greg said. “New Jersey and Pennsylvania are regulated, and we only purchase our inflatables from manufacturers that have gone through the strict certification processes in PA or NJ.
BubKat Bounce can bring the party to your backyard, providing an assortment of bounce houses ranging from the most basic to the more advanced inflatables. Their equipment can be used by children of all ages and are great for birthdays, graduation parties, or just a backyard barbecue. A typical inflatable takes less than six minutes to inflate and, of course, a trained professional is present at all times while the equipment is in use. However, Greg stresses that parents must also be present while children are using the bounce houses and equipment.
In addition to offering backyard fun, BubKat Bounce has recently partnered with Players Park located on Rte 146 in Clifton Park. When it opens on June 11th, BubKat Bounce will have 6,000 square feet of space dedicated to inflatables of all kinds, including water and obstacle courses, and interactive games for all age groups, from young children to adults.
Their concession stand, The Back Nine Grill, will open June 16th and customers will be able to enjoy burgers, hotdogs, chicken fingers, and fries, along with delicious home baked cakes, cookies, cupcakes and other treats, courtesy of Amanda and the rest of the team. “I’ve always loved baking,” says Amanda, “and all of us have had extensive experience in running restaurants. My husband, Craig, was a line cook at the Albany Pump Station and other restaurants, and our combined knowledge and experience will go into operating the concession and catering part of our business.”
Amanda’s degree is in hotel and restaurant management from SUNY Delhi and, as well as being an accomplished baker and candy maker, she gained invaluable experience as the restaurant manager of the Albany Pump Station, where she worked for eight years. Ruth Hayes has a degree in biology and she will also be an integral part of the team. She and Greg met as camp counselors when they were 15 years old, and have been together ever since.
Greg and Craig grew up together in Peekskill, NY and have been friends since they were three years old. Greg is a veteran of the Iraq war, having served during the invasion in 2003 and returning for subsequent tours in ’05 and ’06. Upon returning to civilian life, Greg returned to school on the GI Bill and received his Master’s in Business Administration from the College of St. Rose in May 2011.
“I’ve always loved the upstate area, and Craig and I decided a long time ago that we wanted to start a family business, something that we could build and then leave for our children to continue.” Graig also says that he wanted to start a business, “doing something that’s fun for a change.”
As the business grows, BubKat Bounce will expand northward, with plans to open an indoor facility, either in Queensbury or Glens Falls. In the meantime, if you’re interested in booking a party with Bubkat Bounce, you can visit them on their website for pricing and party packaging information at www.bubkatbounce.com or call them at 518-695-2051. And of course, you can join them on June 11th for their opening day at Players Park in Clifton Park, where they will be open from 10am-10pm.