People who live in Westchester always say it feels like a small town tucked inside a big city. For Anthony and Hope Ulrich, Westchester is the kind of place where neighbors become friends, friendships turn into extended family, and big dreams don’t happen alone.
That sense of togetherness is at the heart of Wonderworld Playground, the Ulrichs’ newly opened indoor playground on Sepulveda Boulevard, right on the border of Westchester and Culver City. More than just a place for kids to play and explore, Wonderworld was built as a gathering space–a living room for families–made possible by years of community roots, shared childcare, late-night help, and a village that showed up when it mattered most.
A Real-World Love Story
Anthony and Hope’s story begins not with dating apps or algorithms, but in what Hope laughingly calls, “The real world.” The two met while she was a bartender at Circle Bar in Santa Monica, where Hope was putting herself through school at West LA College, intent on earning an accounting degree.
Anthony remembers frequenting the bar, usually with his cousin who worked across the street. He spent many late nights sipping beer while trying to get the attention of the pretty brunette bartender. But it was a futile endeavor.
“She wanted nothing to do with me!” Anthony says with a laugh, while Hope nods in agreement.
Romance would have to wait.
Through a twist of fate, Anthony joined the Circle Bar staff. He and Hope were friends first, then began sharing meals on breaks while slowly getting to know each other. Hope’s protective demeanor began to melt away.
“She was like, ‘Oh, this guy’s actually kind of nice,’” says Anthony.
Hope admits she eventually began flirting with Anthony, but he didn’t seem to notice. He insists he was simply being a gentleman and a professional co-worker. Either way, the friendship turned into something more, and the foundation they built during those early years would later shape how they built a family–and a business–together.
Discovering Westchester
When the couple decided to move in together, they were searching for something rare in Los Angeles: a house they could afford. Hope discovered Westchester, a neighborhood Anthony, an L.A. native, had never even heard of. They took a chance, and it didn’t take long to fall in love with Westport Heights.
“At first, I thought this would just be a starting place,” Anthony says. “But as the years went on, we realized we never wanted to leave.”
They found what so many Westchester families describe: walkable streets, friendly neighbors, and an overwhelming sense of connection. Surrounded by other young families in similar life stages, Westchester quickly became home.
Marriage, Parenthood, and Life’s Curveballs
Anthony proposed to Hope on their one-year anniversary, and the couple planned a dream wedding at Malibu’s Calamigos Ranch until life had other plans. Hope became pregnant with their daughter, Emma, and moved up the wedding. Then the pandemic hit.
Instead of a big celebration, they married at the courthouse before Emma arrived.
Hope still dreams of wearing a wedding dress one day, perhaps at a big party to celebrate a future anniversary. But like so many families during Covid, the Ulrichs adapted, focusing on what mattered most: building a family.
Emma is now a kindergartener at Kentwood Elementary, a creative, art-loving child who prefers paintbrushes over pirouettes. Her younger brother, Oliver, attends First Friends by the Sea preschool and brings his own joyful chaos to the family dynamic. Together, the Ulrichs are a familiar sight around the neighborhood, at the beach, the Playa Vista Farmers’ market, Kentwood school events, and weekend potluck gatherings with friends.
From a Problem to a Possibility
The idea for Wonderworld didn’t come from a business plan, it came from lived experience.
As Emma became a toddler, Hope found herself repeatedly driving long distances to indoor playgrounds like Scooter’s Jungle. She noticed a glaring gap: the space was totally focused on kids, but offered little to the parents accompanying them.
“There was such a need,” Hope says. “People were driving to the Valley or the South Bay. I started thinking, ‘Why isn’t this here?’”
With her background in accounting and bookkeeping, Hope ran the numbers. But it wasn’t just about profitability. It was about joy, community, and creating a space where families could connect.
The dream stopped feeling abstract and started feeling urgent.
A year ago, the Ulrichs signed a lease. After months of construction, planning, and community help, Wonderworld officially opened in January, just five minutes from home.
Designed by the Community, for the Community
From the beginning, Wonderworld was envisioned as more than an indoor playground. It would be a place where kids could play freely and where parents could actually relax.
That vision came to life with the help of Celeste Martinez of Next Level Home Design, a Westchester resident and mom whose design work transformed the space.
Celeste created a bright, immaculate play area paired with a beautifully designed parents’ lounge.
“We just really wanted to design a place where it feels like you’re in your living room. We have couches, chaise lounges, and people sprawled out while on their phone. They’re so comfortable. It’s nice to see,” says Hope.
There’s also work stations, charging ports and Wi-Fi.
“Celeste was a huge part of making this place what it is,” Hope says. “She helped bring our vision to life.”
But the design was only part of the story.
It Takes a Village
As construction deadlines loomed and family life continued, the Ulrichs leaned on their community, and their neighbors in Westchester did not disappoint.
They credit the Wilk, Landefeld, Shepard, Shearer, Chin, and Saccoccio families for their support, from watching the kids to helping build and assemble pieces for Wonderworld late at night.
“It really takes a village,” Anthony says. “And I believe our village is the best.”
These weren’t just favors, they were acts of love that made Wonderworld possible.
A Space That Brings People Together
Inside Wonderworld, kids play freely while parents work, chat, or simply hang out. During one recent weekend, parents who had never met before gathered around to watch a football game together while their children played nearby. It was exactly the kind of organic connection the Ulrichs hoped to foster.
Wonderworld offers open play sessions, private birthday parties with customizable themes, and is launching classes in collaboration with other Westchester moms, including art workshops, music classes, and creative “craft-in-a-box” events that kids can take home instead of disposable party favors.
Memberships are also available, reinforcing the idea that this is a community hub, not just a one-time destination.
Looking Ahead
Anthony continues his real estate work with the Stephanie Younger Group and remains deeply involved in the community through the Westchester Arts & Music Block Party. Hope still oversees her bookkeeping business, ZBooks, while building Wonderworld. She has hopes of growing it even further someday.
Like their marriage, their business is built on balance: dreaming big while staying grounded, taking turns leading, and always putting family and community first.
In many ways, Wonderworld is a reflection of Westchester itself: welcoming, family-centered, and powered by people who show up for one another. And for the Ulrichs, that’s the greatest success of all.
Check out Wonderworld Playground by visiting wonderworldplayground.com!
Story by Shanee Edwards. Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner.