Our History

The birth of a truly unique Kids Gym Franchise Concept

In 2004, Michael and Babz Barnett, parents of two young children, found themselves frustrated and disappointed in the variety and quality of kids gym programs, in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

As busy parents, they spent too much time driving from place to place trying to fashion a rich set of experiences for their kids. One day, that frustration bubbled over into the early ideas for a place where parents and kids could find a variety of gym, music and art programs under one roof.

They called it Romp n’ Roll.

Everything Tested Before Rollout

Activities, programs and play experiences are researched and tested in two company-owned locations before introduction to the Romp n’ Roll franchisee community in addition to the detailed training provided to instructors.

Romp n’ Roll’s first location opened in October 2004, offering a variety of high-quality kid gym classes led by enthusiastic, well-trained instructors and held in a clean, safe, whimsical center.

Michael and Babz opened their second location in 2005, less than a year later, and awarded their first franchise in 2007.

Michael and Babz Appear on Shark Tank

In 2010, Michael and Babz were invited to appear on ABC’s reality show, Shark Tank. They turned down offers from two of the sharks, so they could keep 100% of ownership and thereby control the growth and quality of their promising kids gym franchise.

Romp n’ Roll Opens Doors in China

Romp n’ Roll granted a “Master Franchise” license to an investment group in China in 2009, deciding to take a pause in U.S. expansion, which resumed in 2015. Today, Romp n’ Roll has over 300 indoor playground franchises in the U.S. and China.

Three things make Romp n’ Roll a premier kids gym franchise

• Every world-class experience is exclusively focused on enriching the lives of their children aged 3-months to five years old. Romp n’ Roll isn’t a center for kids of all ages.
• A wide variety of activities, programs and classes can all be found under one roof; reducing wear and tear on parents and creating a safe, familiar place for their children to enjoy.
• Our whimsical centers are joyful and professionally designed to stimulate and motivate children to have fun, socialize and learn new skills without feeling like they’re learning at all.

lisa lichon and sheva lyons (willow grove)

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A Truly Special and Rewarding Kids Playgound Franchise

With our exclusive focus on 3-month-old to 5-year-old children, Romp n’ Roll is the leading franchiser in early childhood development and enrichment concepts.

Our recurring memberships, single class and punch pass options provide revenue streams and options for parents to choose from without compromising the variety of classes which only Romp n’ Roll can provide. Our model helps children reach critical cognitive and developmental milestones before entering kindergarten. Parents also appreciate our focus on creating safe and structured social growth opportunities that are so important for both parents and children alike.

Our bright, clean and whimsical franchises are specially-designed to capture the imagination and encourage creativity in children – making memories that last a lifetime for both parents and their children; just another reason why Romp n’ Roll is one of the most special and rewarding children’s fitness franchise concepts on the market.

Your room for growth potential is also supported by the fact that we offer even more than gym, music & art classes! Our locations provide special sessions such as Kid’s Night Out, Open Playtime, Events and Winter/Summer/Spring Camps throughout the year that are so fun and addicting, parents learn to reserve early before the spots fill up! We also host the most memorable birthday parties around.

Available Territories