Chinese collectible brand Pop Mart continues U.S. brick-and-mortar expansion

POP MART is just one of many examples of why retail real estate professionals need to stay on top of trends to bring in concepts that are unique and have a strong appeal, which in turn makes for a successful multi tenant retail destination.

For me, this means talking to as many people as I can at next week’s ICSC Las Vegas, but it’s not a once-a-year thing. It’s something you have to do every day including read everything you can about retail, delve into social media posts including Youtube channels, conduct AI searches, pay attention to movies and miniseries, visit as many retail destinations in your market and as you travel, and be especially mindful of pop-up concepts and new international entries.

My first contact with POP MART was when Laura DeSwart brought in the first U.S. permanent store to Triple Five Group’s American Dream in September 2023.

What is Pop Mart? It is a globally recognized pop culture and designer toy brand from China. Founded in 2010, Pop Mart has become an Asian culture and entertainment company known for selling collectable “designer” toys, often sold in a “blind box” format, where people buy a surprise collectible.

I was in Chicago when Pop Mart opened its first Chicago location in October 2024 at Centennial’s Shops at North Bridge, the 15th U.S. Pop Mart physical store. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I arrived during opening day to witness a line of several hundred people queuing up on Michigan Avenue to get into the store as late as midday.

In 2024, the company opened 20 U.S. locations, and more are on the way this year in “key cultural hubs” across the country.

This growing U.S. presence, along with its more than 100 overseas stores, drove $1.83 billion in revenue for the company in 2024 (a 107% increase YoY).

This level of success has solidified Pop Mart’s position as a central player in the booming “kidult” industry, nomenclature for the adult toy phenomenon that accounts for as much as $9 billion in U.S. toy sales annually, with recurring favorites that include the LEGO Group, American Girl and Hello Kitty.

Pop Mart mainly sells its own concept brands that feature famous Asian culture icons but also collaborates with some of the biggest names in pop culture, such as The Walt Disney Company, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Marvel Entertainment and Sanrio. However, Pop Mart is selective about what it brings into the Pop Mart fold, because collaborations must have cultural relevance, staying power and a visual appeal that can be adapted into its distinctive toy format.

If you want to learn more about Pop Mart’s real estate expansion in the U.S., contact the Pop Mart team of James Kennemur, and in Canada, contact Don Gregor of Aurora Realty Consultants.

Read more: How Pop Mart is Turning Toys into the Next Drop Culture Phenomenon (Retail TouchPoints)