Fall River’s Little Wanderers Sensory Play Clarifies Closure Rumors Ahead of 3rd Anniversary

There has been some confusion surrounding Little Wanderers Sensory Play in Fall River lately, and owner Melissa Carreiro wants to make one thing very clear: she has not given up on her business.

In fact, Little Wanderers is preparing to celebrate its third anniversary on Thursday, September 17, marking three years of giving children of all abilities a place to play – most importantly, children on the autism spectrum and those who may struggle in crowded or overstimulating environments.

What happens after this year, however, is a little more complicated. Carreiro's current lease ends December 31, and ongoing issues with the building, along with learning that the property itself is for sale, have pushed her to begin searching for a new home. She worries that if the building changes ownership, its future could change as well, making it difficult for her to feel secure staying where she is.

For now, though, Little Wanderers is still open and operating as usual, and that's the bottom line. Carreiro plans to remain open into roughly the second week of December and will still hold events, including the sensory-friendly meet and greet with Santa that families have come to know.

Little Wanderers Is Not Simply Closing

Carreiro said one of the biggest misconceptions she wants to clear up is the idea that she decided to shut down because the business was unsuccessful or because she no longer believes in what she created. That, she said, could not be further from the truth.

"I don't want people thinking I'm closing because I stopped believing in what I do," Carreiro said. "It's the circumstances surrounding the building."

Fall River’s Little Wanderers Sensory Play Clarifies Closure Rumors Ahead of 3rd Anniversary

Finding another location has been the hiccup. Carreiro estimates that getting into another suitable space could require somewhere around $10,000 to $15,000, while some of the properties she has looked at would nearly double what she currently pays in rent. For a small business that has only been open for three years, those numbers add up quickly.

"We've spent over $100,000 since we've opened," she said. "We have no grants, no funding. This has all been just me and my husband and a labor of love."

Carreiro said she doesn't even pay herself from the business. As long as Little Wanderers could support itself and continue giving local families a place to go, that was enough for her. When she first opened the doors three years ago, she said she had only $600 in her account, making what she has built since then even more meaningful.

A Safe Space for Kids and Parents

Little Wanderers was inspired in part by Carreiro's own family. She has four children, including two she adopted during the COVID pandemic who became part of the reason she wanted to create a sensory-friendly play space in the first place. Over time, the business became much more than somewhere for children to burn off some energy.

Fall River’s Little Wanderers Sensory Play Clarifies Closure Rumors Ahead of 3rd Anniversary

Parents met other parents who understood what they were going through. Kids made friends, families connected and people found a place where they could relax without worrying about whether their children would be judged for simply being themselves. That's another reason that makes the possibility of leaving especially difficult.

"This isn't just a business to me," Carreiro said. "This is my life. This is a lot of parents' only safe space. My only safe space."

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Reflecting on the past three years brought plenty of emotion for Carreiro, who described the experience as one of the most meaningful things she has ever done. She said she has gotten to know countless children and families personally, and the thought of not seeing them regularly is one of the hardest parts of the uncertainty ahead.

Fall River’s Little Wanderers Sensory Play Clarifies Closure Rumors Ahead of 3rd Anniversary

"This has been honestly the best thing I've ever done in my life," she said. "I've never met so many amazing people, so many amazing kids. I know these kids like the back of my hand."

Looking Ahead to a New Chapter in Fall River

Carreiro admitted she may not be able to find another location before the end of the year, meaning Little Wanderers could have to take a break once the current location closes. Still, she refuses to consider the story finished and plans to keep her LLC active while continuing the search for another home.

"It's not goodbye," Carreiro said. "We'll see you later."

Fall River’s Little Wanderers Sensory Play Clarifies Closure Rumors Ahead of 3rd Anniversary

In the end, one thing is certain: three years of building a community from the ground up, Carreiro has no intention of walking away from what she created. As she put it herself, "I'm stubborn as they come, and I will figure it out."