After months of teasing, Pop Mart, the toy retailer behind last year’s Labubu craze, has confirmed the opening date for its permanent new brick-and-mortar store at Dolphin Mall. A representative tells New Times the shop will open on Saturday, September 12, opposite the mall’s food court near the Bass Pro Shop.
The new store will be Pop Mart’s second permanent South Florida location. In June, the brand opened its first local shop at Pembroke Lakes Mall. Robo Shops (Pop Mart vending machines) stocked with the brand’s wares can also be found at Sawgrass Mills, the Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, and Westland Mall. Last year, at the height of the viral Labubu phenomenon, a pop-up vending machine at Dolphin Mall became the most sought-after place to procure the creepy-smiling plush toys.
Founded by Chinese billionaire Wang Ning, Pop Mart launched as a variety store in 2010, but from the start, toys were always its best-selling product. In 2014, the company dropped its other products to focus exclusively on toys and collectibles…