Hi everyone! We are the Destulien family — Nequel, Alisha, Lillian, and Landin — and we are so excited to introduce ourselves as the family behind LillyLand Play Cafe!

The name “LillyLand” was inspired by our two children, Lillian and Landin, who have been the heart behind this dream from the very beginning. What started as a dream years ago has now become a reality, and we truly believe God’s timing and guidance led us here.

Ever since my children were babies, I dreamed of creating a place where families could gather, children could play safely, and parents could relax and connect. I looked into opening a business like this several times over the years, but each time I felt like God was telling me it wasn’t the right time or the right place. When this building became available, I immediately felt the calling and knew this was finally the moment we had been waiting for.

I have a bachelor’s degree in interior design and worked in the field for several years before God called me to Haiti, where I spent a year teaching a classroom of 31 second-grade students. That experience changed my life — and it’s also where I met my husband, Nequel. After moving back to Illinois together, I continued working with children through in-home daycare, assisting at a local preschool, and running an after-school program. Those experiences gave me a deep love and understanding for children and families in this stage of life.

In recent years, I’ve also worked professionally cleaning homes, which has instilled a very high standard of cleanliness and care that we fully intend to bring into LillyLand Play Cafe every single day.

While I, Alisha, will be the face you’ll see daily at LillyLand, my amazing husband Nequel will be working hard behind the scenes. He works full-time as an electrician, but he will be working alongside me as we prepare this space for our community. I truly could not do this without his support, encouragement, and hard work.

Our goal is to create more than just a play cafe — we want LillyLand to be a welcoming, safe, clean, and joyful place where memories are made, friendships grow, and families feel at home.

Thank you for supporting our family and following along on this exciting journey. We cannot wait to welcome you into LillyLand Play Cafe!