Pop Mart toy store coming to Westfarms mall in West Hartford

Pop Mart, the toy retailer behind this summer’s viral Labubu collectibles craze, will open a new location at Westfarms mall in West Hartford, according to the mall’s website.

The store will be located on the first floor near Aerie and Build-A-Bear, the website shows. Pop Mart joins several other retailers and food options planned for Westfarms, including Haagen Dazs and Barnes & Noble.

The expansion brings Pop Mart’s distinctive blind box toys to central Connecticut for the first time. Until now, Connecticut shoppers could only visit Pop Mart stores in Fairfield County locations in Norwalk and Danbury.

Pop Mart gained widespread attention this year through its Labubu blind boxes, small collectible toys sold in sealed packages that became a summer sensation. The toys feature various characters, with buyers not knowing which specific figure they’ll receive until opening the box.

“It’s like the Furby of this generation,” said Connecticut content creator Thuy-Linh Phan, who spoke about the Pop Mart phenomenon during the height of its summer popularity.

The demand for the collectibles drew customers to the existing Connecticut stores throughout the summer, with fans making trips to Fairfield County to purchase the blind boxes.

Phan expressed excitement about the Westfarms location’s potential reach. “Positioning is everything. Since Westfarms is central, they’re going to get people from all over. Maybe Southern Mass as well,” she said.

The West Hartford location could attract a broader customer base beyond those specifically seeking Labubu figures, according to Phan. “There’s a little bit of something for everybody. There is something that you think is cute, something that you can put on your desk that can start a conversation,” she said.

Pop Mart’s business model centers on collectible toys sold in blind boxes, where customers purchase sealed packages without knowing which specific character they’ll receive. The company offers various character lines beyond Labubu, appealing to collectors and casual buyers alike.

The retailer’s growth comes amid broader interest in collectible toys and desk accessories that serve as conversation starters in workspaces and homes. “People want a personality again. Human is the new luxury,” Phan said.

Westfarms mall, located in West Hartford, serves as a shopping destination for central Connecticut and draws customers from surrounding areas. The addition of Pop Mart represents part of the mall’s efforts to attract new retailers and dining options.

The timing of Pop Mart’s Westfarms opening has not been announced. The mall’s website currently shows the store as “coming soon” without providing a specific opening date.

Pop Mart’s expansion to central Connecticut reflects the company’s growth following the viral success of its Labubu line. The collectibles gained additional attention through social media and celebrity endorsements, contributing to increased demand at existing store locations.

The West Hartford store will provide central Connecticut customers with local access to Pop Mart’s full range of collectible toys, eliminating the need to travel to Fairfield County locations.

Phan noted her enthusiasm for the brand’s growing mainstream appeal. “I’m very excited, I like that it’s getting more mainstream,” she said.

The Westfarms location joins Pop Mart’s expanding retail presence across the United States as the company continues to grow its physical store network beyond its original online and international markets.