They created a state of the art Children's Enrichment Center for their kids and hundreds more!
The guys went to elementary and high school together, and now they're raising their children together in the city and in the child care center they developed and opened.
The "Nest" opened four months ago, and is located at 13th and Locust Streets in Center City Philadelphia.
The former strip club is 15,000 square feet of space for kids to learn and play, and is a much-needed resource for a new breed of parents in Philadelphia.
It was born from a desire and real need among long-time friends Farrell Ender, Scott Caplan, and Matt Gorman.
"We wanted our kids to experience living in the city," said Matt Gorman.
The trio grew up together in the suburbs and moved to the city after college.
"We all got married around the same time, started a family and made the decision to stay in the city," said Matt.
But these fathers of four daughters and a fifth on the way soon learned that child enrichment in the city was a problem.
"We found ourselves schlepping all over the city to play spaces and the quality of the programming was not that great," Matt said.
So they put their heads together during one of their favorite past times.
"We were actually watching a Flyers game one night about a year ago. And over a beer, were scratching our heads wondering if there was a better way to do it," Matt explained.With help from their wives, "Nest" became a reality.
"It starts with having good classes; it starts with adequate programming and teachers. We have enrichment classes, which are Mommy and me, classes. We have cooking classes
There's also music, and space for a retail shop where parents can get coffee and organic snacks. And it solved a family dilemma for many local families.
"I really didn't know what I was going to do," said Erica Intzekostas. "I was taking him to the playground during the nice weather and wondering what I was going to do during the winter."
Nest has partnered with Green Eggs and will be opening Green Eggs Café next door to its Center in about a month.
