MARYSVILLE — Abbas Alnahi was a single dad to three kids when he decided that he could provide childcare as good as anything he would have had to pay for.
That was five years ago, and Alnahi’s ABC Learning Center chain has since expanded from Lynnwood and Mukilteo to open a branch in Marysville Aug. 8.
“I’m not the type of owner who just comes in once a month,” Alnahi said. “If you come in, you’ll see me playing with the kids.”
The childcare, preschool and pre-kindergarten learning center is starting out with only three other employees, but Alnahi hopes to expand it to 20 soon.
“Getting the right people in the right place is the most important thing,” Alnahi said. “I meet with these people for their interviews because I want to see their compassion before I hire them. I don’t want them to be doing this just for a paycheck. I want them to enjoy what they’ll be doing here because that helps them create a great environment for kids to grow, learn and be safe.”
Alnahi is trying to cover as much of Snohomish County with his chain as he can. He praised Marysville as a welcoming and “booming” business-friendly city, and pledged to do what he could to make a positive difference in the community in return.
“Our ultimate goal is to make sure these kids are more than ready for kindergarten,” Alnahi said. “We want them to learn and get comfortable with the basic school routine, and to give them a foundation for scholastic success for the rest of their lives.”
The ABC Learning Center is open from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays though Fridays, and is in Suite A at 9315 State Ave. in Marysville. For details, visit abclearningcenterofwa.com.
