Funtopia
{{Short description|Chain of family entertainment centers}}
{{Infobox company
| image = Funtopia_logo.png
| name = Funtopia
| type = Private company
| image_size = 193px
| caption =
| industry = Family entertainment centers
| hq_location = Sofia, Bulgaria
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2013|df=yes}}
| locations = 11
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Ivaylo Penchev {{small|(CEO)}}|Tanya Kishkin {{small|(CEO)}}}}{{cite web|url=https://blooloop.com/play/in-depth/funtopia-walltopia-tania-kishkin/|title=Living adventurously through active entertainment with Funtopia|first=Lalla|last=Merlin|date=10 December 2018|access-date=16 November 2023|work=Blooloop}}
| owner = Walltopia
| parent = Adventure Facility Concepts & Management
| homepage = {{URL|www.funtopiaworld.com}}
}}
Funtopia is an international chain of family entertainment centers headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, owned by Adventure Facility Concepts & Management, a subsidiary of Bulgarian climbing wall and active entertainment manufacturer Walltopia.{{cite web|url=https://funtopiaworld.com/|title=New Generation Active Entertainment Centers|access-date=15 Nov 2023}} Funtopia centers feature amusement climbing walls, trampoline parks, ropes courses, and obstacle courses.
The first Funtopia location opened in 2013 in Sofia,{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-indoor-rock-climbing/|title=The Bulgarian Duo Leading an Indoor Rock Climbing Revolution|last=Deprez|first=Esmé|date=10 November 2015|work=Bloomberg|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=17 November 2023}} and the chain currently has 11 locations in 5 countries, including both corporate-owned and franchised sites.
History
Following Walltopia's entry into the manufacturing of active entertainment products in 2012, the company founded Adventure Facility Concepts & Management (AFCM), its family entertainment center operation and franchising arm. The first Funtopia center run by AFCM opened in June, 2013 in Paradise Center in Sofia, Bulgaria. It featured mainly amusement climbing walls targeting children and teenagers.{{cite web|url=https://www.visitsofia.bg/bg/cityinfrastructure/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%B4%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%8F/%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%86%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D1%86%D1%8F%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE-%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D1%84%D1%8A%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%8F|language=bg|title=Фънтопия|trans-title=Funtopia|work=VisitSofia.bg|publisher=Stolichna Municipality|access-date=17 November 2023}}
In 2014, the chain expanded into the United States with its first franchised location in Lehi in Utah, with two corporate locations following in the years after, both in Chicago, Illinois.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-funtopia-aurora-ave-st-1025-20171024-story.html|title=Funtopia indoor playground, climbing gym planned for Naperville|first=Erin|last=Hegarty|work=Naperville Sun|publisher=Chicago Tribune Media Group {{small|(Tribune Publishing)}}|date=24 October 2017|access-date=16 November 2023}}{{cite news|first=Jackie|last=Pilossoph|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/news/ct-gla-funtopia-kids-play-tl-0623-20160622-story.html|title=Funtopia, a new indoor playground|date=22 June 2016|work=Glenview Announcements|publisher=Pioneer Press {{small|(Tribune Publishing)}}|access-date=16 November 2023}} The following year, Funtopia centers opened in Canada and Israel,{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/girl-stuck-climbing-wall-surrey-1.3475206|title=Employee fired for texting while girl stuck on climbing wall|first=Tamara|last=Baluja|work=CBC News|publisher=CBC|date=3 March 2016|access-date=17 November 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.capital.bg/biznes/kompanii/2017/05/12/2968898_da_se_pokaterish_na_franchaiza/|language=bg|title=Да се покатериш на франчайза|trans-title=Climbing on the franchise|first=Iglika|last=Filipova|work=Capital|publisher=Economedia|date=12 May 2017|access-date=17 November 2023}} with the chain expanding into Australia and Malaysia in 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/funtopia-australias-biggest-playground-to-hit-melbournes-southeast-this-october/news-story/79d09e4118b754c69a25dcf7127097f7|title=Funtopia Carrum Downs: New Melbourne Playground opening October ...|work=Herald Sun|publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times {{small|(News Corp Australia)}}|date=21 September 2019|access-date=17 November 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/jom/2017/10/287496/go-childs-play-klang-valley|title=GO: Child's play in Klang Valley|first=Ewe Paik|last=Leong|date=5 October 2017|access-date=17 November 2023|work=New Straits Times|publisher=Media Prima}} The company most recently opened its first location in Oman in 2022, after finishing it in 2020 but facing delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://barka.funtopiaworld.com/|title=Funtopia Barka – Active Entertainment Center for the whole family|access-date=17 November 2023}}
After starting with a focus almost exclusively on themed amusement climbing walls, the selection of attractions at Funtopia locations has grown over time to include trampoline parks, ropes courses, and obstacle courses, among others.
Operations
Funtopia is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, with 11 centers currently operational in five markets, including Bulgaria, the United States, Australia, Israel, and Oman. It is owned by Adventure Facility Concepts & Management, itself a subsidiary of Walltopia. The chain previously had locations in Canada and Malaysia.
See also
References
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