As if the big-screen TVs, video games, and WiFi weren’t enough, now Stephen Harrell is on the lookout for a bounce house. It’s all part of his vision to make Nice Dreams Cafe a vibrant, welcoming place for young people to socialize. A lifelong resident of Raleigh, Stephen says he was alarmed by the absence of positive hangouts for kids in town. He hopes to fix that. “We don’t want it to just be grab-and-go here," he says. "We want people to be able to stay here and enjoy themselves.”

In keeping with the kid-friendly ambiance, servers scoop up achingly sweet confections such as Krispy Kreme donut sundaes, cake-batter ice cream, and toppings such as Snickers and gummy worms. Additionally, Stephen wants to further cement his café’s status as a community bastion by hosting frequent kid-friendly events and incorporating local ingredients into the menu. In the meantime, he has his eye on a few bounce houses.