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Bergen County-based provider of pediatric physical and occupational therapy services BLS Physical Therapy is launching its first brick-and-mortar location.

Scheduled to Jan. 4 at 184 Rivervale Road in River Vale, the BLS Child Development Center will allow the practice to offer expanded services to even more families.

Billed as a “one-stop shop for child development,” the new facility will feature a state-of-the-art therapy gym with a range of tools and equipment to support sensory integration and enhance treatment outcomes. Offerings will include physical therapy and occupational therapy, as well as group classes such as tummy time, ready to write and sensory, and motor classes.

Among the updated services slated for 2025 are speech therapy and multi-sensory academic tutoring to further support children’s development.

Streamlining therapy

According to BLS founder and owner Brittany Nardone, these additions will cater to the “whole child” and address not only physical milestones but also cognitive, sensory and academic needs under one roof.

She went on to say that by providing access to these essential services in one location, the BLS Child Development Center seeks to simplify and support the journey for families navigating multiple providers.

Nardone – who was named as a Rising Star during NJBIZ’s Leading Women in Business awards earlier this year – said, “Our goal is to create a nurturing, multi-disciplinary environment where families feel supported every step of the way.”

“We’ve designed this space to be a welcoming hub for child development, making it easier for families to access the services their children need without feeling overwhelmed. Too often, parents think of us solely as a physical therapy provider, but this new space and our expanded offerings aim to change that perception,” she said.

Personalized care

Founded two years ago by Nardone, BLS Physical Therapy offers expert care and personalized programs that help children achieve developmental milestones. Currently, it operates out of rented space in Closter.

As an official opening approaches, BLS said it is finalizing plans for the launch. That includes scheduling an open house event for families and community members to tour the facility, meet the team and learn about services.

The center will be open six days a week. In addition to therapy services, BLS will explore the opportunity to offer a larger variety of group classes, further establishing the BLS Child Development Center as a hub for child development, family engagement and community connection.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:33 a.m. ET Jan. 2, 2025, to include the opening date for BLS Child Development Center.