How Did Downtown Slime Come to Life?
Like a lot of great ideas, Downtown Slime started with our kids.
Our three daughters have been obsessed with slime for years. We’ve taken them to different slime experiences, bought more slime than we’d probably like to admit, and made countless batches of it at home.
As two ’80s babies, Lauren and I certainly weren’t strangers to slime. We grew up in the era of Nickelodeon, when slime usually meant one thing—someone was about to get a giant bucket of green goo dumped over their head!
But our daughters introduced us to a completely different world of slime.
Today, slime is about creativity. It’s colors, scents, textures, glitter, charms and endless combinations. Kids can take the same basic ingredients and create something completely their own.
And just to be clear—nobody is getting “slimed” at Downtown Slime!
The Idea Started Taking Shape
Our daughters’ love of slime planted the seed, but Downtown Slime really came to life by combining several different parts of our lives.
I’ve been in real estate with RE/MAX for more than eight years, so I’m constantly paying attention to communities, neighborhoods, businesses and available spaces.
At the same time, I’ve always had a huge love for movies and fantasy. Harry Potter, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Disney—you name it, I’m probably a fan.
One of the things that has always amazed me is the ability to create a world.
You watch a movie, walk through a theme park or experience an attraction and think: Someone had to imagine all of this before it existed.
The characters. The colors. The atmosphere. The little details that make you feel like you’ve stepped into another place.
I always thought it would be incredible to create something like that one day.
Obviously, we weren’t building Hogwarts or a galaxy far, far away—but when the idea for Downtown Slime started becoming real, I knew I didn’t want to simply open a place where kids could make slime.
I wanted to create an experience.
Why Downtown Freehold?
That part was easy.
Lauren and I both grew up in Manalapan, just one town away from Freehold, and Downtown Freehold has been part of our lives for as long as we can remember.
Now, we bring our own girls here.
Whenever there’s a parade, festival or community event, we try to come downtown, walk around, grab something to eat and enjoy everything happening on Main Street and South Street.
Over the years, Lauren and I would often say the same thing:
“It’s too bad there isn’t more for kids to do down here.”
We loved the idea of being able to bring the girls downtown, do an activity together and then go to dinner. Or have dinner and take a stroll afterward. Something that would give families another reason to spend an afternoon or evening in Downtown Freehold.
Being in real estate, I always had my eye on what was happening locally. I told myself that if the right space ever became available, I would seriously consider opening a kids’ slime-making experience.
Then one day, the right location did become available.
And we swooped on it.
Suddenly, the idea we had talked about for years wasn’t just an idea anymore.
Downtown Slime was coming to life.
Then Lauren Added Another Piece: Squishies!
Of course, there’s another huge part of Downtown Slime that has Lauren written all over it.
Squishies.
If you have kids who love squishies, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Lauren has been on more squishy hunts with our girls than I could possibly count. She and the girls know what kids are looking for, what’s popular and, most importantly, what makes a kid stop in their tracks and say, “I NEED THAT!”
We knew that had to become part of Downtown Slime too.
What started as a slime-making concept grew into something bigger: a place where kids could create, explore, shop and just have fun.
Our retail area has become an important part of that experience. Maybe you don’t have time to make slime that day. No problem! Stop in and grab a squishy, fidget or another special surprise for your little one before or after dinner downtown.
Built by Our Family, for Families
When we look at Downtown Slime today, we can see pieces of our entire family in it.
Our daughters inspired it.
My real estate background helped us recognize the opportunity.
My love of fantasy, movies and immersive experiences pushed us to think beyond simply opening a slime shop and instead create our own colorful little world.
Lauren brought her knowledge of what our girls—and kids in general—love, especially when it comes to squishies and all the fun things you’ll find throughout our shop.
And our lifelong connection to this area made Downtown Freehold feel like the perfect place to bring it all together.
We wanted to create the type of place we wished was here when our girls were younger—and the type of place we still want to bring them to today.
A place where families can make something together. Celebrate a birthday. Discover a new favorite squishy. Laugh, get a little messy and then walk out the door and enjoy everything Downtown Freehold has to offer.
There are plenty of things we still want to add, create and dream up. In many ways, we feel like we’re only getting started.
But that’s the story of how a few family slime-making sessions, countless squishy hunts, a love of Downtown Freehold and one available storefront turned into something real.
That’s how Downtown Slime came to life.
And we can’t wait to see what this little world becomes next.
Downtown Slime
The Messiest Fun in Town!
36 South Street, Freehold, NJ
