Collectors, fans and curious shoppers queued outside St David’s Cardiff this morning as POP MART officially opened the doors to its first ever Welsh store.
The highly anticipated opening attracted large crowds before the store’s 10am launch, with many eager to get their hands on some of the brand’s most sought-after collectibles, including the hugely popular LABUBU range, which has become a global sensation among collectors and social media users.
Located on the upper level of the Grand Arcade at St David’s, the new 2,529 sq ft store marks a major milestone for the designer collectible brand as it continues its rapid expansion across the UK and Europe. The Cardiff store is the first POP MART location in Wales and brings the brand’s distinctive blend of art, design and pop culture to the Welsh capital.
Inside, visitors will find shelves packed with POP MART’s most recognisable collections, including THE MONSTERS, SKULLPANDA, HIRONO and CRYBABY, alongside a wide range of blind box collectibles and limited edition releases. The store also features the brand’s signature colourful displays and immersive retail design, creating an experience that goes far beyond traditional toy shopping.
The opening follows months of anticipation after signage first appeared at St David’s earlier this year, sparking speculation among fans that Cardiff would soon be getting its own POP MART store.
Confirmation of the opening date earlier this month generated significant excitement online, with many Welsh collectors previously having to travel to cities such as London, Birmingham or Manchester to visit official stores.
POP MART has grown into a global retail phenomenon, operating hundreds of stores worldwide and building a dedicated fanbase around its designer toy characters. Recent store launches have attracted lengthy queues and strong demand from collectors, a trend that was evident in Cardiff this morning as eager shoppers lined up to be among the first through the doors.
Take a look through our gallery below for a first glimpse inside Wales’ first POP MART store and some of the exclusive collectibles now available in Cardiff.
