When Wonderland Bakery co-owners Sondra and Allyson Ames were looking to open their first shop in Los Angeles, they said they got unexpected help from two billionaire real estate developers: Donald Bren and Rick Caruso.

Bren became a fan of Wonderland Bakery with its brightly colored décor and sweet treats after the mother-daughter baking entrepreneurs opened it five years ago. It is in Newport Beach at the Bluffs shopping center, which is owned by Bren’s Irvine Co.

Bren told the Ameses if they wanted to expand in Los Angeles, they should open at the Grove and he would make a call and get a referral, according to Sondra Ames.

She said Grove owner Caruso called them the next day and offered to meet with them.

“We were pretty excited,” she said. “We didn’t expect Rick Caruso to give us a call.”

The meeting proved successful. Wonderland Bakery opened its doors at the Grove last month, and the 4,000-square-foot store will be the model for six additional bakeries the Ameses plan to open nationwide during the next two years.

Wonderland’s Grove location, which is set off from the main shopping area, is stocked with cookies, cupcakes, other baked goods and Wonderland-branded apparel, toys and at-home baking kits. There are also two private spaces, one indoors and another, the “enchanted garden,” for outdoor events.

Sondra Ames said Wonderland used to courier its baked goods from Orange County to the studios in Los Angeles and now will be able to serve that clientele from the Grove.

The shop’s been open a short time, but so far it has lived up to its reputation as a hot spot.

“One night last week we sold out of all the cookies, cupcakes, brownies – all the baked goods,” Ames said. “And we ran out of change.”