Pop Mart has a multi-center deal with Simon to expand throughout the U.S.

POP MART has cut a multi-center deal with Simon Property Group group to rapidly expand in the U.S. nationwide. The deal includes 20 Simon malls and Simon Mills projects.

This expansion is still part of the first phase for the toys and collectibles global chain to increase its presence in North America that began with the opening of its first location on a long-term lease at American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J. in September 15, 2023. The concept, while very popular in Asia, was virtually unknown in the Americas before Triple Five Group executive Laura DeSwart spotted it and convinced them to sign a long-term lease with American Dream mall.

Since then, POP MART has been expanding its footprint, and now operates more than 45 brick-and-mortar locations in the United States as well as more than a dozen in Canada.

Pop Mart’s U.S. presence is concentrated primarily in Western and Northeastern states, with California and New York leading in terms of store count. In California, there are multiple locations in Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area. Similarly, New York State accounts for six stores in NYC and additional stores in Albany, Buffalo and Long Island.

In Texas, POP MART operates stores in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Other notable markets include Florida (Miami and Orlando), Illinois (Chicago), Nevada (on the Las Vegas Strip) and Washington (Seattle). Markets with strong tourism, particularly international, as well as strong local AAPI culturally diverse residents are preferred.

The retailer has a long-term growth strategy in North America,” according to Luis Barrientos, executive VP of business development at POP MART.

Prior to the newly announced locations, POP MART had opened stores within the past two years at malls operated by other developers as well as Simon locations, including The Florida Mall (Orlando, Fla.) and Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (Arlington, Va.).

New POP MART locations to open at Simon malls:

- Brea Mall (Brea, Calif.)

- City Creek Center (Salt Lake City, Utah)

- Del Amo Fashion Center (Torrance, Calif.)

- Dolphin Mall (Sweetwater, Fla.)

- The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (Las Vegas)

- King of Prussia (King of Prussia, Pa.)

- La Plaza (McAllen, Texas)

- Lehigh Valley Mall (Fullerton, Pa.)

- Menlo Park Mall (Edison, N.J.)

- Pheasant Lane Mall (Nashua, N.H.)

- Quaker Bridge Mall (Lawrence Township, N.J.)

- The Mall at Rockingham Park (Salem, N.H.)

- Twelve Oaks (Novi, Mich.)

- The Westchester (White Plains, N.Y.)

- Walt Whitman Shops (South Huntington, N.Y.)

- Westfarms (Farmington, Conn.)

New POP MART locations to open at Simon Mills:

- Arizona Mills (Tempe, Ariz.)

- Arundel Mills (Hanover, Md.)

- Grapevine Mills (Grapevine, Texas)

- Potomac Mills (Potomac Mills, Va.)

- Sawgrass Mills (Sunrise, Fla.)

Read more: Simon Adds More Pop Mart Stores to Its Shopping Locations (The Toy Book)