Pop Mart to open first Welsh store at St David’s Cardiff

Collectors and fans of those distinctive devilish-grinned dolls will soon have their own destination in Wales, as Pop Mart confirms it’s opening its first Welsh store at St David’s Shopping Centre in Cardiff.

The global toy phenomenon, which acquired the rights to create Labubu collectibles in 2019, has built a massive following since launching in mainland China. With over 1.3 million TikTok videos tagged #Labubu and millions of views from unboxings and customisations, the characters have become a worldwide sensation.

Until now, Welsh enthusiasts have had to make trips to London, Birmingham, Manchester or Cambridge to visit one of Pop Mart’s 13 UK stores. That’s all about to change with the new 2,529 sq ft Cardiff location, which will stock best-selling ranges including THE MONSTERS collection featuring the cult-favourite Labubu dolls, alongside HIRONO, SKULLPANDA and more.

Helen Morgan, Centre Director of St David’s Cardiff, said: “Following strong demand from our guests, we’re thrilled to be bringing Pop Mart to St David’s. With its loyal global following, POP MART’s arrival reflects our long-term commitment to bringing exciting, world-class brands to Wales. We know the brand will be hugely popular and that there will be a great deal of anticipation for its arrival.”

A Pop Mart UK representative added: “We’re so excited to open our first store in Wales and bring the Pop Mart magic to Cardiff. We know this location has been long anticipated by our fans and we are thrilled to officially confirm the news. All updates will be revealed through our socials.”

The store will be located on the upper level of the Grand Arcade, positioned near River Island and Zara, close to the recently opened Sephora. Pop Mart, which operates over 500 stores across 30 countries, first arrived in the UK when it opened at London’s Westfield Stratford City in late 2022.