Exploring Life & Business with Katie Bettini of Leo & Luca

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Bettini

Hi Katie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The idea of Leo & Luca started as a dream six years ago. I was working as a lawyer and had just had my son, Luca. My husband was in residency and we were living many states away from our family and friends. I felt isolated and yearned for a place to take my son and connect with other new parents. I started thinking and dreaming about the idea then, but never really believed it would happen.

Fast forward three years–we moved back to Arizona only to find that Phoenix lacked a toddler-friendly indoor gathering space that allowed parents to relax. I was still working full time and convinced myself I would be crazy to open a business, but I could not let the idea go. After finding the right family-friendly space in our neighborhood, the dream came together and Leo & Luca was brought to life.

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?
Small business life is not for the faint of heart. You have to get comfortable almost immediately with the concept that you have no idea what you are doing, and you will wear many hats despite that feeling (a very hard concept for a Type A person like me!). I’ve been IT, HR, site supervisor, scheduler, receptionist, cleaner, artist, party planner, and owner (sometimes, several of those in a day!). The construction process was its own adventure. Since opening in July 2023, there have been countless ups and downs. I’ve learned that very little goes as planned, and to always have a backup plan. Thankfully, we have an amazing team and many of the growing pains are behind us.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Leo & Luca?
Leo & Luca’s tagline is community through play. The entire business is designed around finding ways to help parents and caregivers feel supported on the battlefield of the early years. We have wonderful staff who care deeply about the children and are on standby to pitch in and help out in any way they can. We offer a café with coffee, healthy snacks, and pastries from our friends at Noble Bread to keep our families powered up and well-fed. We have a retail section so caregivers can pick up a gift for that weekend birthday party and avoid adding another stop to their outing. We also offer drop-off care for families who need a little extra help (or a break!).

Finally, we want families to feel supported with kid-friendly events that cater to different members of the family. To that end, we offer a variety of monthly events, including Mommy & Me art classes, donuts with dudes, yoga classes, character visits, Parents’ Night Out, family pizza nights, and new parent meetups, with new offerings added each month. We also have a dedicated event space available for semi-private and private birthday parties and special events. We are also very close to opening an adjacent outdoor space that will be a (fenced-in) sanctuary in the good weather months.

On a personal note, I’ve gotten to know a number of small business owners since we opened and we are making it our mission in 2025 to support as many local businesses as we can. For example, we are partnering with locally owned restaurants to offer guests reciprocal discounts on Parents’ Night Out and their meal tab. Look for more cross-business offerings in the near future.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love how vibrant many of Phoenix’s neighborhoods are–they make a huge city feel like a small town. We spend a lot of time trying new restaurants or grabbing coffee in the Melrose district. Recently, we popped into a local bike shop (Sun Cyclery) and left with a new friend. We run into many of our Leo & Luca regulars at Uptown Plaza or the Uptown Market. It’s nice to feel a sense of community in a city of this size.

Least favorite–predictably, the heat! The summer feels endless, especially with small children.

Pricing:

• 2-Hour Drop-In Play: $25 for the first child, $10 for additional children
• 5-Drop-In Pass Package: $100
• Unlimited Monthly Membership: $100 (recurring) or $125 (one-time)
• Parties: Hourly Pricing Available On Our Website and Packages Coming Soon!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://leoandlucaaz.com/
• Instagram: @leoandlucaaz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leoandlucaaz/

Image Credits
Dillan Lowrie (Image 1)
Kevin Brost (Images 2-7)