Dublin, Ohio – September 18, 2026 -- Little Diggers, the construction-themed indoor sandbox playspace chain, has signed more than 50 franchise locations across the U.S. and now operates six corporate-owned stores, with additional openings planned before year-end.
Franchise pipeline swells after 2025 launch
Since opening its franchising arm in 2025, the company has fielded thousands of inquiries from all 50 states and more than 85 countries. Signed or in-development locations now span 21 states, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Little Diggers plans to expand into California, with location details to be announced.
Concept built on sensory-controlled play draws 100,000 visitors
Founded in Dublin, Ohio in 2023 by Zach and Hannah Bowers, Little Diggers has served more than 100,000 children and built a social media following exceeding 130,000. Each location spans 1,200 square feet and houses more than 200 toys, trucks and excavators, including the company's proprietary Sand Stacker unit. The sand is sourced from the Bahamas and marketed as silica-free, non-toxic and bio-renewable; locations also sell nitro cold and hot brew coffee for accompanying parents.
Founder applies startup scaling tactics to brick-and-mortar rollout
Zach Bowers, a former venture capital-backed fintech CTO, has applied lean startup methodology to the chain's physical expansion. "There's something special about getting lost in playtime," Bowers said, noting the brand was built around slow, hands-on play as a counter to overstimulating retail environments.
Brand partnerships extend reach into entertainment licensing
Little Diggers has partnered with Handyman Hal, Sherri Dusty Rinker and Paramount around the release of "Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie," broadening its marketing tie-ins beyond the playspace format itself.