Jump in a clawfoot bathtub with friends, get your groove on in a 70s-era living room, float among the clouds, or swing in a sea of flamingos. It’s all part of Selfie@Stanley, a pop-up immersive installation at the Stanley Marketplace. Created by two Central Park moms, it features more than 25 backdrops for Instagram photos, Tik Tok videos, or just making lasting memories.
Molly Pearson and Regan Suhay are the brains behind interactive photo labyrinth, which has been constructed in the central commons area of the market. A year ago, Suhay visited a similar pop-up with her 12-year old daughter and friends, and collectively they took more than 200 photos and videos. That’s when the two women decided to try to bring such a venture to the Stanley despite the fact that neither has small business experience. “We’re always on the hunt for new and fun things to do with our families, and also for our kids to do with their friends,” says Suhay. “And we’ve been very lucky to work with some amazing professionals who have helped us figure out how to launch a business.”
The Selfie@Stanley booth opened in January, just as the COVID-19 Omicron variant was surging. Pearson says that was unfortunate timing, but that February brought new energy and a huge uptick in visitors of all ages. “We love seeing grandparents taking keepsake photos with their grandchildren, having girls’ night out groups enjoying themselves, and teens and tweens TikToking it up. Everyone who comes out of the space is all smiles,” says Pearson.
Tickets for the selfie-station are $10 per person. The space is also available to be rented for birthday parties or school fundraisers. The pop-up installation is scheduled to close April 17. Pearson and Suhay say they’re not sure what’s next for them whether it’s replicating the photo booth elsewhere or creating another new business venture entirely.
Photos courtesy of Selfie@Stanley