Scaling Fun: The Real Estate Machine Behind Unleashed Brands

Can entertainment concepts win in a tight real estate market?

The kids’ entertainment world is exploding, and in this episode of Retail Retold, host Chris Ressa dives straight into the center of that momentum with Melissa Tinsley, Director of Real Estate at Unleashed Brands. Melissa pulls back the curtain on the powerhouse portfolio behind Urban Air, Sylvan Learning, The Little Gym, and Water Wings, revealing how Unleashed is rapidly shaping the future of experiential retail.

She shares why she left Tropical Smoothie Café after eight years to tackle the high-stakes, high-complexity world of big-box entertainment real estate—where ceiling heights, engineering gymnastics, waivers, zoning battles, and multimillion-dollar buildout decisions turn every Urban Air deal into an adrenaline-fueled puzzle.

Melissa breaks down Urban Air’s evolution from trampoline park to full-scale adventure park, how that shift has changed the competitive landscape, and why the brand is aggressively expanding across the West Coast, East Coast, and major suburban hubs.

She also explains why Urban Air is becoming a go-to solution for vacant big boxes—drawing families, driving cross-shopping, and creating the kind of sticky traffic landlords crave.

Packed with candid insights on franchisee growth, site criteria, and real estate challenges, this episode gives a powerful look at how Unleashed Brands is building the next generation of family-focused retail experiences.

What You’ll Hear:

• The inside story on how Urban Air is rewriting the rules of kids’ entertainment
• Why “trampoline parks” are over—and adventure parks are the new category killer
• The gritty realities of big-box real estate: ceiling hurdles, digging pits, raising roofs
• How Unleashed Brands is turning dead anchors into high-performing family magnets
• The markets where Urban Air is going all-in—from California to the Northeast
• Why franchisees with serious capital are chasing adventure park deals
• What most landlords still misunderstand about Urban Air
• The dealmaking mindset that gets complex entertainment leases signed—fast

Chapters

00:00 – Meet Melissa Tinsley

Melissa shares her background and move to Unleashed Brands.

01:26 – Inside the Unleashed Brands Portfolio

How Urban Air, Sylvan, The Little Gym, and Water Wings fit together.

03:16 – The Reality of Big-Box Entertainment Deals

Ceiling heights, engineering challenges, waivers, and zoning.

04:55 – From Trampoline Park to Adventure Park

How Urban Air is evolving and outpacing competitors.

07:28 – Franchise Growth + Who’s Investing

The types of franchisees fueling expansion across the country.

09:31 – Markets on Fire

Where Urban Air is growing fastest—especially CA, NY, and NJ.

11:13 – Filling Big Box Vacancies

Why Urban Air is becoming a prime replacement for dark anchors.

12:18 – What Landlords Need to Know

Co-tenant reactions, parking concerns, and why Urban Air drives powerful family traffic.