New Kids’ Indoor Play Space and Bookstore Opens in Ocean Beach

Peninsula News / April 18, 2025

Storybook is the only way to describe Bluebird Play.  Which isn’t surprising since the educational background of one of its co-owners, Amanda Klein, along with her husband Dan, is in children’s theater.

The relatively new indoor play space and bookstore at 4993 Niagara Ave. above OB Noodle House Bar 1502, has been stretching imaginations in Ocean Beach since January. The new play space is something right out of Alice in Wonderland. In fact, one of the whimsical play structures in Bluebird is actually drawn from the famed children’s book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865), one of the most popular works of English language fiction.

Klein’s college undergrad degree was in directing, and she spent eight years in the Los Angeles area teaching elementary school theater as well as in Boston, where she went to grad school. Described on the company’s website, bluebirdplay.com, as “Inspired by literature and designed to stir the imagination, the new hybrid business is exactly that: A dream come true for owners and patrons alike.”

“These are sets all based on different classic works of children’s literature,” said Amanda Klein of her play structures. “Each one is inspired by a story. I designed them with a children’s furniture designer who built them and shipped them out here.”

Explaining the impetus for starting a child-oriented business, Klein, who has three young children, stated: “There didn’t feel like there was a lot in Ocean Beach that was kid-centric. There aren’t a ton of playgrounds right here. So, I just wanted a small, indoor space. When we got here, we thought we wanted to do something fun, creative, and inspiring for kids that nurtures their imagination and love of literature.”

Klein said they wanted their new facility to be easily accessible for parents, so right now they are offering day passes. She noted parents need to be with their kids in Bluebird’s space most of the time. But she added Bluebird is starting to offer a couple of drop-off events, like a date night event for parents later this April, where they can drop their children off to play and return.

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BLUEBIRD PLAY

Where: 4993 Niagara Ave., #200, above OB Noodle House Bar 1502.

Info: hellobluebirdplay.com, 619-354-0204.