Laughter and squeals of glee will come from kids and families across greater Toledo this Spring and Summer as they enjoy bouncy houses and fluffy foam, all from an unlikely source.
At first blush it would seem the entertainment is through a company or a franchisee, but no. It’s all because of a young man who just turned 17 and is wrapping up his junior year at Bedford High School in Temperance, Mich. While most teens his age search for jobs, he created his own – and for some of his contemporaries.
Meet Chase Legeza, whose entrepreneurial spirit might be a case of the apple not falling far from the tree, as the saying goes.
His rise in the world of business began last summer. “I turned 16, got my license, and mainly was looking for a job,” he said. “I applied just about everywhere – restaurants, which typically are a first job. No one was hiring.”
Then, in concert with his father, Tony Legeza, he came upon the idea of starting his own business. “We saw an opportunity,” Chase said, “and took it.”
The opportunity was to acquire a company that provided bounce houses and inflatables for outdoor parties and community get-togethers. “I always thought that would be a fun thing to do,” Chase said. He said he enjoyed bounce houses when he was younger. “To be able to bring the fun and put a smile on their faces means a lot.”
Tony set up an LLC in Chase’s behalf and became a partner. The elder Legeza called upon his own experience. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak,” he said, including tech startups and raising venture capital. He now leads business development for a manufacturing company.
Jyve (pronounced “jive”) Bounce began in July 2025 and provides “safe, high-quality bounce houses and inflatable rentals. Our goal is to make every event exciting, memorable, and easy to plan from start to finish,” according to the rental’s website (jyvebounce.com). The acquisition came with nine units, and through other purchases the company has 34 inflatables, such as water slides, a dunk tank, and interactive games.
On the heels of his success, Chase in August added to his business portfolio by starting Fantastic Foam Party – Ohio, which provides machines that make fluffy foam. “No one was doing foam in this area,” Tony said. “It’s big down south and out West.” (fantasticfoamparty.com/fantastic-foam-parties-ohio/)
The Bounce and Foam parties are fully hosted and staffed events by Chase and those he hires.
The items and equipment are stored in an 1,800-square-foot warehouse, where Chase and his hires clean, sanitize and maintain them for their next events. Tony said the warehouse includes commercial-size tents and hundreds of chairs – it’s a full-size party rental business.
“If we keep the units in the condition like we have been,” Chase said, “I believe we can keep this going for a while.”
Chase said the Bounce and Foam rental businesses run from April to October throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
Tony, who guides Chase as a father and a mentor, said, “It’s been really admirable to see him grow not only as a young man, but also as being accountable. He embraces the opportunity to learn new things and work hard. It’s nice to see him put money in the bank on his own, buy a car on his own, get insurance on his own. He’s self-sustainable.”
Tony added, “This is so fun to watch my son learn about business, be hands-on and earn an income in the process.”
For Chase, it’s not all work and no play. He’s played ice hockey—he’s a forward—for several years, for Bedford school, and last season for Sylvania North Stars. Next season, when he’ll be a high school senior, he’ll return to playing for Bedford.
And after he graduates? “I’m thinking of college, majoring in finance and accounting, but I’m not set on that. I’ve got no college in mind.”
What is clear in his mind, though, is his drive to succeed. “Anyone can do anything they really want if they put in the time and effort to achieve their goal,” he said. “I’d say we’re going pretty well right now.”
