Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Queen.
Rachel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started out as a teacher, and after a few years I became a stay-at-home mom. Like so many women, I thought I was prepared for motherhood, but the truth is, it can be isolating and overwhelming in ways you don’t always expect. I loved being a mom, but I also found myself craving community, purpose, and a place that felt uplifting for both moms and kids.
In 2022, my husband and I experienced the loss of our second baby, Juniper. That season changed me in a deep way. Grief has a way of reshaping your entire world, and it made me realize just how many women are quietly carrying things they never talk about: loss, postpartum depression, anxiety, loneliness… all while trying to show up for everyone else.
I saw a need, and I had a solution. I wanted a place where parents could do life together. Not just a coffee shop or a play place, but a space where they could feel seen, supported, and reminded that they still matter too.
That’s when my mom and I opened The Mingo Coffee & Play. We wanted to create a space where kids could play freely, but moms could also sit down, breathe, enjoy a great cup of coffee, and feel like themselves again. What started as a simple dream has grown into a community hub, a place where families celebrate birthdays, moms make friends, and people feel connected.
Today, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, not just because of the business itself, but because of what it represents. The Mingo is a reminder that joy can exist alongside grief, and that community can be part of the healing. And we’re just getting started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m not sure that “smooth road” and “small business” can ever find themselves in the same sentence (lol)!!
There were so many struggles in the beginning, especially because The Mingo is really two businesses in one: a coffee shop and a children’s play space. That meant double the learning curve, double the overhead, and a lot of trial and error.
One of the biggest challenges was simply the weight of it all. I was navigating motherhood with 2 under 2, grief, and postpartum emotions while also trying to build something from the ground up. There were days I questioned if I was doing too much or if I was capable of carrying it. And honestly, there were seasons where it felt like I was pouring everything I had into the business and still barely staying afloat.
Another struggle was learning how to run a business without a roadmap. My mom and I had to learn everything as we went…staffing, finances, marketing, customer experience, pricing, and how to grow without burning ourselves out. We’ve made mistakes, we’ve had to pivot, and we’ve had to keep going even when it felt overwhelming.
Those struggles are what shaped The Mingo into what it is today. Through it all we have always stayed true to our mission and kept our customers and their experiences at the forefront. It has taught me resilience, it taught me leadership, and constantly reminds me that growth doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from consistently, learning, and staying committed to the mission even on the hard days.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the co-owner of The Mingo Coffee & Play, a space my mom and I built to serve families in a way that feels both fun and deeply supportive. What we do is unique because we’re not just a play place and we’re not just a coffee shop. We have intentionally created a space where kids can play, but parents can also feel cared for.
We specialize in creating a welcoming environment for families, especially mothers, and we’ve become known for the heart behind our brand: community, motherhood, and making moms feel seen. From the way we design our space, to the way we host events, to the voice we use online… everything is built around connection.
A major part of what I do and what has helped The Mingo grow is content creation and storytelling through social media. Over time, I’ve built a community online of over 200,000 people across platforms by sharing real, behind-the-scenes moments of motherhood, business ownership, and what it truly looks like to build something from the ground up. I think people connect with it because it’s honest and I don’t just show the highlight reel. I share the hard days, the growth, and the heart behind why we do what we do.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that The Mingo has grown into a true community hub. Families don’t just come here for coffee or play, they come here to celebrate birthdays, meet other moms, create routines, and feel like they belong. We’ve also created memorials like Juniper’s Rainbow, which gives families a way to honor babies they’ve lost and celebrate rainbow babies. That’s something incredibly personal to me, and seeing it become a place of healing for other families has been one of the most powerful parts of this journey.
What sets us apart is that we lead with purpose. We’ve built a brand that’s joyful and fun on the outside, but deeply intentional underneath. We care about moms’ mental health, we care about families feeling supported, and we care about creating an experience that feels warm, safe, and uplifting, not just another business people pass through.
At the end of the day, I’m most proud that we’ve built something that makes people feel less alone. That’s what The Mingo has always been about.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Lynchburg is the sense of community. It’s the kind of city where people genuinely show up for each other, whether that’s supporting small businesses, rallying around local events, or helping families in need. There’s a friendliness here that you don’t always find everywhere, and I think that’s what makes it such a special place to raise a family and plant roots.
I also love how much Lynchburg has grown in recent years. There’s more creativity, more entrepreneurship, and more pride in being local than ever before. It feels like a city that’s still evolving, but in a really exciting way.
What I like least…and I say this with love…is that sometimes Lynchburg can be slow to embrace change. New ideas, new businesses, or anything different can take time to be fully supported. But I also think that’s changing, and it’s part of what makes the growth happening right now feel so special.
Pricing:
- First Child Play Session- $13, Additional Child- $11
- Monthly Memberships starting at $32
- Birthday Parties starting at $300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themingo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mingocoffeeandplay/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinkflamingoplaycafe/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mingo-coffee-and-play-forest
