Today we’d like to introduce you to Ama Arnesen.
Ama, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m from Venezuela and I came to this country when I was 16yrs old. I have always lived in Miami except from 2007-2009 that I went to live in Chicago, IL where I did my 2 yrs of college and then came back to Miami and graduated from FIU with a Bachelor in Arts specializing in photography.
My Journey in the Event & Kids’ Entertainment Industry
My journey in the event and kids’ entertainment industry began in 2016, when I purchased an indoor playground with my husband and business partner, Jose. The business was called Goin’ Bananas Party & Play Venture.
I still remember getting the keys on a Wednesday morning and, by that same Wednesday afternoon, having my first customer come in for a children’s birthday party. The funny part? At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about running a kids’ party business! What I did have was a huge willingness to learn, and I learned quickly.
At the time, my daughter Amanda was only 18 months old. Becoming a new mom while simultaneously becoming a new business owner was one of the biggest challenges of my life. I was determined to give my daughter the attention she needed while also making sure the business succeeded. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me how to work hard, adapt, and never be afraid of learning something new.
That first year was especially challenging. I had to subcontract almost every part of our parties, which meant that after all the expenses, our profit was very small. Instead of seeing that as a failure, I saw it as an opportunity to learn. I started teaching myself everything I could about balloon decorations, table settings, flowers, centerpieces, event styling, and all the little details that make a celebration special.
In 2018, my husband and business partner decided to open a restaurant right next to the playground called Despensa Creative Cuisine. Once again, we stepped into an industry we knew very little about. We learned along the way, worked incredibly hard, and eventually built a beautiful and successful restaurant.
Then the pandemic changed everything.
We spent almost eight months trying to keep both businesses alive by adapting to whatever our customers needed. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, we eventually had to let go of both the restaurant and the indoor playground.
But there was one thing I knew for sure: I didn’t want to stop doing kids’ parties.
I was simply too in love with creating celebrations.
During the pandemic, I started with Caravana parties and then moved into smaller setups for gatherings of no more than five children, since larger celebrations were not allowed. Little by little, my old customers began reaching out again, and new customers started finding me too.
What started with children’s birthday parties grew into baby showers, first communions, adult birthdays, corporate celebrations, and even a wedding.
One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been watching customers become part of my story. I had the privilege of working with a couple whose wedding I decorated, and years later, I was there again for their gender reveal, baby shower, their son’s birthday, and many other family celebrations. Today, they have a beautiful two-year-old.
Those are the moments that make me love what I do.
Being invited into someone’s most important celebrations is incredibly fulfilling. I don’t simply see myself as someone who decorates an event. I get to be part of the moments families will remember for years.
Three years after closing my original businesses, I had the opportunity to return to something I had missed so much: owning an indoor playground.
In 2023, right after having my second child, Emilio, we purchased Chiki Town Playground.
Chiki Town is a super cute indoor playground designed for children up to 7 years old, and it has given me the perfect space to combine two things I love: creating beautiful celebrations and helping families have an amazing, stress-free experience.
Today, I don’t only create parties at Chiki Town (@chikitown.playground). I continue to bring my creativity to celebrations everywhere — at venues, parks, homes, businesses, and wherever my customers dream of celebrating.
Looking back, my journey has included motherhood, entrepreneurship, unexpected challenges, businesses that succeeded and businesses that had to close, a pandemic, starting over, and learning more than I ever imagined.
But through all of it, one thing has remained the same:
I love creating memories.
And I feel incredibly lucky that my business allows me to be part of so many beautiful moments in people’s lives.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely not been smooth. I have faced many challenges throughout my journey, from being a new mom while learning how to run a business, to figuring out an industry I knew very little about. In the beginning, I had to subcontract almost everything, which made it difficult to make a good profit, so I had to teach myself new skills and constantly find ways to improve.
Then came the challenge of opening a restaurant, learning an entirely different business, and eventually facing the pandemic, which forced us to close both of our businesses despite doing everything we could to adapt and survive.
Starting over was probably one of the hardest parts. I had to rebuild my business from the ground up, starting with very small events during the pandemic and slowly earning the trust of customers again. Later, having my second child while purchasing Chiki Town brought another huge life change and another balancing act.
There have been moments when I questioned whether I could keep going, but every challenge taught me something. I learned to adapt, to be resourceful, to keep learning, and most importantly, not to give up when things don’t go as planned.
Looking back, I honestly believe the difficult moments shaped me just as much as the successes did. They made me a stronger business owner and, more importantly, taught me to appreciate every customer, every celebration, and every opportunity I have today.
We’ve been impressed with Goin’ Bananas Miami and Chiki Town Playground , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
About Our Businesses
Goin’ Bananas Miami and Chiki Town Playground are two businesses that are deeply connected by my love for creating memorable celebrations.
Goin’ Bananas Miami was named after the very first indoor playground I owned, Goin’ Bananas Party & Play Venture. Today, it is dedicated to event design and decorations for all types of celebrations, including children’s birthdays, baby showers, first communions, adult birthdays, corporate events, family celebrations, and more. From balloon installations and dessert tables to complete event styling, I work closely with my clients to bring their vision to life.
One of the things that makes Goin’ Bananas Miami special is that I don’t believe I have to do everything alone. I have built relationships with other amazing vendors in the event industry, allowing me to collaborate with photographers, entertainers, bakers, rental companies, florists, caterers, and other professionals to create a complete and unforgettable experience for our clients. We are often able to help clients connect all the pieces of their event in one place.
Chiki Town Playground is the perfect combination of my two passions: children and celebrations. It is an indoor playground and private event venue designed for children up to 7 years old, where we specialize in creating fun, beautiful, and stress-free birthday celebrations.
Our birthday packages are designed with parents in mind. We want them to be able to enjoy their child’s special day instead of spending the entire celebration working. Our packages include many of the important elements needed for a party, and we offer a variety of add-ons so families can customize their celebration without having to coordinate with multiple vendors or run around trying to find everything themselves.
Chiki Town is more than just a playground. It is a one-stop destination for children’s celebrations, combining a fun and safe play environment with beautiful decorations, party services, and attentive customer service.
What sets both brands apart is the personal experience behind them. I have been on both sides of the celebration — as a business owner, an event designer, and most importantly, as a mom. I understand how overwhelming it can be for parents to plan a party while managing everything else in their lives. That is why convenience and customer service are such a big part of what we offer.
I am especially proud of how much both brands have grown from the lessons I learned when I first started in 2016. What began with one playground and a willingness to learn has evolved into two businesses that allow me to create experiences for families and be part of some of their most special moments.
At the heart of both Goin’ Bananas Miami and Chiki Town Playground is the same mission: to take the stress out of celebrating and create beautiful, memorable experiences that families can truly enjoy.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned throughout my journey is that you don’t have to know everything to get started, but you do have to be willing to learn and adapt.
When I first started my business in 2016, I knew very little about running a playground, organizing children’s parties, or decorating events. I learned by doing, by making mistakes, by listening to my customers, and by constantly teaching myself new skills.
I also learned that success is not always a straight line. We built businesses, lost them during the pandemic, started over, and eventually had the opportunity to build again. There were moments when starting over felt overwhelming, but every setback taught me something that helped me become a better business owner.
Most importantly, I learned that relationships matter. My customers, vendors, business partners, and the families who have trusted me with their celebrations have played a huge role in my journey. Some customers have been with me for years and have trusted me with one important milestone after another, and that means more to me than any number or statistic.
Today, I don’t take any opportunity for granted. I have learned to appreciate the journey, embrace change, and keep moving forward even when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Contact Info:
- Website: Goinbananasmiami.com and chikitown.square.site
- Instagram: @goinbananasmiami and @chikitown.playground
