Apple Tree West to remain open as buyer emerges
Dec. 17, 2023
Apple Tree Children’s Centers’ west-side location will be staying open.
A buyer emerged for the location at 6400 W. 43rd St. days after the child care center announced all four of its Sioux Falls locations would be closing no later than Jan. 11.
“This is a joyous moment,” said Amy Hauff, Apple Tree Children’s Center West director. “A Christmas miracle, we’re saying.”
Hauff, who has been with Apple Tree for 22 years and led the west-side location for the past eight years, called the past few days “an emotional roller coaster.”
After telling staff and families news of the closure Thursday, her former colleague Pete Nelson reached out hours later.
Nelson, who owns Valvoline Instant Oil Change centers in Sioux Falls, used to be an executive director at Apple Tree.
“When he heard about what was happening for us, he came to the rescue, basically,” Hauff said. “We wish we could save all of them, but at least we can handle West. He’s going to take that financial burden, and I’m going to just keep running it like we’ve been doing, and hopefully we’ll get more teachers and be able to take on more kids that are displaced now.”
Owner Randy Stewart, whose mother, Dee, founded Apple Tree more than 40 years ago, was “amazing” when Nelson stepped forward to take over the center, Hauff said.
“He has been so gracious. He really only had Apple Tree at heart as well. He’s very happy all of this is happening, and he’s been generous through all of it, and we appreciate his support.”
Hauff told staff and families the news about the buyer today. Her center serves 170 kids from 4 weeks old through age 11 and is licensed for 223 children. She has about 35 employees.
“I sent out the email to the families today and stayed at my computer and just had a flood of emails coming back to me saying ‘Thank you. Praise God. We’re so happy.’ The phone started ringing. Everyone was ecstatic. There are people who paid at another place to keep a spot but were like, ‘Can we come back anyway?’ and we said ‘Of course. We don’t want to lose you.’ It’s not just a place to put your kids. It’s more personal than that.”
Hauff said she’s hoping to hire some displaced teachers to be able to increase how many kids the center can accept.
“We have ratios we have to have for the state, and if we have those teachers, we have openings for the kids, no problem,” she said. “Anyone that wants to come by and look around or take a tour and enroll, we’re available right away to do that. We want to help as many people as possible.”
After a few sleepless nights, she’s finally breathing a sigh of relief.
“Just extreme pain and extreme joy within days of each other,” she said. “I was so worried about my families. When I heard the news, it just tore me apart because I knew there’s a crisis already in child care, and it was like, what are my families going to do? I’ve been with some since they were infants and now they’re 6 or 7. These families trust you, and we’re all a family.”
There’s a chance other buyers could be entertained for the other Apple Tree centers, she said.
“Pete just wasn’t able to bite off quite that much,” she said. “You don’t make money on day care. You run a day care because you want to be there and you’re there for the kids. It’s not because you want to be rich.”
