Andrea Vojtko had a few notes about raising kids in Battle Creek. No. 1: There’s no place to play when the weather’s bad.
“I went to a museum in Kalamazoo in 2025 and it was so fun,” Andrea said. “I thought, ‘I’m going to have a children’s museum!’”
That dream grew into Mikey’s Play Café, a creative, energetic and inclusive space now open at Lakeview Square Mall. Mikey’s welcomed children and parents five days a week for open play, classes, special events, birthday parties and quality coffee.
Andrea worked with John Hart, Small Business Development Director for the City of Battle Creek, who connected them with an accountant, lawyer, architect and, importantly, Northern Initiatives Business Coach Justin Andert. Andrea enrolled in the Fast Trac Business Planning Cohort, where Justin coached her through profit-and-loss statements, marketing and a pitch deck. He also helped her prepare to apply for a loan after banks were unable to help the startup business. Northern Initiatives used funds from the Battle Creek Loan Fund to get the wheels on the bus rolling.
Justin also helped Mikey’s, a nonprofit with a nine-person board, connect with local philanthropic initiatives. As the founder of Color the Creek, a weeklong public art festival that creates murals throughout Battle Creek, he knew how to navigate local opportunities.
“I was able to steer them toward potential grants and opportunities available locally,” Andert said.
Justin’s support has extended beyond business coaching. He and his 3-year-old son have made several visits to Mikey’s since its July grand opening.
“He loves the foam pit, and the grocery checkout area is a huge hit,” Justin said. “We go there a lot.”
