At WonderPlay & Coffee, the café smells of freshly brewed Colombian coffee beans and sweet Filipino pastries. Little hands paint, future baristas take orders at the pretend café, and kids tumble across padded playsets.
It’s all thanks to a three-year-old toddler named Reyna, the tiny muse behind it all.
WonderPlay & Coffee is a unique family-oriented play café located in Avondale. Run by husband-and-wife duo, Scott Tran and Trina Mabborang, this business was an opportunity turned passion project that Scott calls a mix of happenstance and luck.
WonderPlay was built with one very specific user in mind: Reyna, their three-year old daughter. As young parents, they struggled to find spaces where Reyna could play comfortably. “She’s a little too small to do bigger kid stuff,” Scott explained. “So we designed a lot of stuff here to lend to that 0 to 6-year-old space—more imaginary play”. As a result, WonderPlay became designed entirely through the eyes of little Reyna. “It feels like [Reyna] designed this place” Scott says. “Everything is designed through my daughter’s perspective”.
The building, which once belonged to an old Avondale autobody shop, is now a play place for children and their families, with a big focus on imaginary play and age-appropriate environments for preschoolers and toddlers. They offer a variety of classes in partnership with other local businesses including Bubbles Academy, Brain To Belly Yoga, and Unocoi Art Studio, and are in the process of developing early childhood education classes, story time, and a puppet show. Uniquely, WonderPlay also provides a place for parents to recharge with their on-site coffee shop, offering fresh coffee and a rotating selection of pastries and snacks, including vegan-friendly options.
Trina and Scott come from unique and complementary professional backgrounds that shape the way they run WonderPlay. With a formal education in Painting and Sculpture, Trina brings an artistic eye and detailed-oriented approach. Scott’s background in real estate and operations gives him the tools to manage logistics, finances and infrastructure. Together, they use their respective strengths to divide roles and work together to build a space that’s both functional and full of heart. Scott explains, “I’ll make sure the bills are paid [and] I’m not gonna try and decorate things because I might mess it up…so we’re a good yin and yang when it comes to the finer details”.
Furthermore, Trina and Scott’s cultural heritage is also woven deep into the fabric of WonderPlay, particularly with their coffee shop. Both come from immigrant families: Scott’s parents arrived in the U.S. from Vietnam seeking asylum after the war, while Trina’s family immigrated from the Philippines in search of better opportunities. Through thoughtful partnerships, they integrate Vietnamese and Filipino culture with the local flavor of Avondale, working with beloved local businesses like Magnifico, a local Colombian coffee shop and roaster for their coffee beans, Umaga Bakery for a taste of Filipino tradition, and Mindful Baking to offer sweet treats for vegan families. For them, it’s not just good eats and a nice cup of joe; it’s a way to “…honor my culture and honor her culture,” Scott believes. “We acknowledge the struggle that our families went through to get here. And we want to keep that alive”.
Since opening their doors in May of 2025, Scott and Trina have seen tremendous success with the local community, numbering 170 memberships and servicing over 3,500 families. Hearing the community’s feedback is some of the most rewarding parts of their job. “They tell us ‘Hey, this is the best place play space we’ve been to, we needed this!’” Scott says. “Going on for a year [thinking] ‘Okay, this is going to cost a lot of money. Is it going to work out?’ To hear that it’s actually something that people want and need, that feels good. It’s rewarding”.
But their success hasn’t been without challenges; navigating being business owners and city licensing was difficult. Scott says it took them a year, from getting a conversation with the landlord to opening day. “The city doesn’t give you a guidebook of okay, step one to do this, step two to do that,” Scott says. “Learning how to go through the licensing process was tough. Lots of Google, lots of ChatGPT”. Especially for the unique kind of business they’re running, getting it approved was difficult. “[While] there are other play spaces in the city, there’s none that have that combo that we have. We have the cafe and we’ve got the play space…so navigating that was tough”.
Despite these challenges, the power couple uses lessons from parenting to deal with barriers as business owners. Patience and understanding, Scott believes, are the most important things to employ when things get a little too hectic. “Just like how when Reyna would have a tantrum” Scott explains. “Breathe, slow down…We take that micro lesson and try to apply it to the whole business. Everything’s a work in progress. [We] try to communicate…try to stay calm and cool as much as possible”. They also emphasize the importance of relying on help—a piece of advice they now share with fellow business owners. “No shame in leaning on others. Ask for help. Use what you have,” they say. “We networked with other business owners in the area to get their perspective on their journey which helped us get moving forward”. Working with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has also expanded their circle of support, providing valuable guidance and access to resources like grants and other forms of funding as they continue to grow.
What started as the inspiration of one little girl grew into a community centerpiece where dozens of families gather to connect and play. WonderPlay stands as a tribute to the values Trina and Scott hold close: family, culture, and creativity. For them, the success of WonderPlay isn’t just about financial success, but creating that environment where families can feel seen and kids can thrive. “We’ve been in play spaces where you’re crammed like sardines and [while] the business is making money, the customer isn’t really having that experience” Scott says. “Trina jokes, she says I would love to be the Disney World of Chicago, and it’s a pipe dream that we’re working towards and trying to build that recognition and branding… as the premier play space in Chicago”.
Experience WonderPlay & Coffee for you and your little ones:
📍Location: 3501 W Belmont Ave
📧Email: [email protected]
🖥️Website: https://www.wonderplaychicago.com/
📱Instagram: @wonderplaychicago
