Q&A: State of Kid Miami Beach Grand Opening

Photography by Alejandro Chavarria on March 9th, 2022 in Editorials, Lifestyle

Cheryl Gonzalez & Alana Oxfeld

Miami Beach, FL – March 9, 2022 – Launched in September 2019 in the Miami Design District, State of Kid seamlessly combines childhood enrichment, parenting classes and curated retail, all in one modern space. Now, as it approaches its third anniversary, founders Alana Oxfeld and Cheryl Gonzalez expanded the brand’s footprint with a larger space in the Design District and a second location at Miami Beach’s new premier lifestyle destination, 1212 Lincoln Road.

Both spaces are approximately 1,700 square feet, situated in two of the city’s best retail hubs. On Sunday, February 6th, State of Kid celebrated the opening of their second location at 1212 Lincoln Road with a morning full of family festivities. The day began with a music set by Jam with Jamie followed by cooking, crafts, science classes and more. Parents and their little ones enjoyed refreshments by SunLife Organics, lunch from Bodega Taqueria and sweets from Toothfairy Bakery. Miami Beach families were able to preview the new kids hotspot created by Alana Oxfeld & Cheryl Gonzalez. The new multipurpose children’s store State of Kid integrates a range of childhood enrichment, parent & me activities, and a highly curated line of clothing creates a fun space where families can learn and form wholesome memories together.

WRE met up with Alana Oxfeld, the mastermind behind State of Kid, and shared the beauty behind her unique concept.

Cheryl Gonzalez & Alana Oxfeld

WRE: What is State of Kid?

Alana Oxfeld: State of Kid brings the most sought-after children’s retail brands and the most in-demand class instructors together under one roof. With enrichment classes for young children up to age eight, educational workshops for adults and a highly curated collection of clothing, accessories and décor, State of Kid was built to make parenting easier. Little ones can choose from a variety of classes from music and dance to art, science and sensory, while parents shop from a selection of coveted American, European, and Australian brands. To give families the ultimate flexibility, several classes are offered as drop-in, with no membership required.

Alana Oxfeld & Cheryl Gonzalez

When we first created State of Kid, we wanted to ensure we were building something useful for parents everywhere.

Alana Oxfeld

WRE: Tell us about your new Miami Beach location.

AO: We are so excited to have a second home at 1212 Lincoln Road. Our new space offers the same curated selection of retail while hosting two classrooms for simultaneous bookings. We often see older siblings in one classroom enjoying cooking or robotics, while their younger siblings are next door in an art and sensory class. We are also thrilled to be adjacent to businesses like Sadelle’s, Barry’s Bootcamp, SoulCycle, SunLife Organics and Rooftop Cinema Club.

WRE: How many locations do you have and are there any plans for more?

AO: When we first created State of Kid, we wanted to ensure we were building something useful for parents everywhere. The pain points that we are aiming to solve in Miami are universal. We currently have two locations in Miami, but we have plans to expand in South Florida and beyond.

WRE: What was the inspiration to start State of Kid?

AO: After years of working for various startups, we were both evaluating our next career move. We had three young children between the two of us and we spent a lot of time talking about all the things that were missing for young families in Miami and beyond. That’s when the idea State of Kid was born. We looked at kids’ classes and wanted to build a space that specifically focused on unique enrichment offerings for different stages of childhood vs. an all-day open play model.

We also wanted to create an inclusive environment for local residents, transient families, and visitors with a mix of semester-based and drop-in classes. In addition, we felt that a retail shop catering to the modern parent was both complementary and necessary. While there are so many options online, we know that many parents prefer to shop in-store due to size variance among brands, the need to pace with a young child’s rapid growth, and the hassle of online returns. We wanted to offer a highly curated collection of the best brands in a single space.

WRE: What are some activities for moms, newborns, and kids at State of Kid?

AO: At State of Kid, we offer classes for every stage of development from 6 months – three years. We have music, movement, art and sensory classes as well as Prep for Preschool which helps toddlers prepare for their upcoming transition. Once children are in school, we offer a range of after-school and weekend classes including cooking, dance, robotics, science and more. Pre-pandemic, we also hosted several parenting workshops covering topics including nutrition, sleep, big emotions and more. We are planning to bring those back in the coming months.