Funtopia
 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Family entertainment centers |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Sofia, Bulgaria |
Number of locations | 11 |
Key people |
|
| Owner | Walltopia |
| Parent | Adventure Facility Concepts & Management |
| Website | www |
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.[2] Funtopia centers feature amusement climbing walls, trampoline parks, ropes courses, and obstacle courses.
The first Funtopia location opened in 2013 in Sofia,[3] and the chain currently has 11 locations in 5 countries, including both corporate-owned and franchised sites.
History[edit]
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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5][6] The following year, Funtopia centers opened in Canada and Israel,[7][8] with the chain expanding into Australia and Malaysia in 2016.[9][10] 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.[11]
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.[2][1]
Operations[edit]
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.[2] The chain previously had locations in Canada and Malaysia.[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Merlin, Lalla (10 December 2018). "Living adventurously through active entertainment with Funtopia". Blooloop. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "New Generation Active Entertainment Centers". Retrieved 15 Nov 2023.
- ^ a b Deprez, Esmé (10 November 2015). "The Bulgarian Duo Leading an Indoor Rock Climbing Revolution". Bloomberg. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Фънтопия" [Funtopia]. VisitSofia.bg (in Bulgarian). Stolichna Municipality. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Hegarty, Erin (24 October 2017). "Funtopia indoor playground, climbing gym planned for Naperville". Naperville Sun. Chicago Tribune Media Group (Tribune Publishing). Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Pilossoph, Jackie (22 June 2016). "Funtopia, a new indoor playground". Glenview Announcements. Pioneer Press (Tribune Publishing). Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Baluja, Tamara (3 March 2016). "Employee fired for texting while girl stuck on climbing wall". CBC News. CBC. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Filipova, Iglika (12 May 2017). "Да се покатериш на франчайза" [Climbing on the franchise]. Capital (in Bulgarian). Economedia. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Funtopia Carrum Downs: New Melbourne Playground opening October ..." Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times (News Corp Australia). 21 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Leong, Ewe Paik (5 October 2017). "GO: Child's play in Klang Valley". New Straits Times. Media Prima. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Funtopia Barka – Active Entertainment Center for the whole family". Retrieved 17 November 2023.