Labubu monster dolls are ugly and adorable
New monster dolls are taking over the internet. Influencers shell out as much as $85 for bigger Labubu dolls.
The wait is finally over.
Pop Mart, the popular Chinese toy company known for selling collectible designer toys, such as Labubus and other blind or mystery box items, opened its first-ever Ohio location Monday inside Kenwood Towne Centre, at 7875 Montgomery Road, Brookfield Properties PR manager Ali Phillips confirmed.
The store is located next to the candy shop, Lolli & Pops, on the lower level.
Pop Mart’s debut comes after months of speculation on when it would finally open, with collectors posting updates on the store’s construction on social media. One TikTok video even shows customers peeking through closed gates at the store before it officially opened to catch a glimpse of the merchandise.
Pop Mart is the official retailer of Labubu dolls and is also the most reliable place to purchase the plushie, as some customers have been duped with fakes that are dubbed “Lafufus.”
While Pop Mart houses Labubus, it typically releases new Labubu items online first since in-store availability can be tricky, especially now due to the dolls’ rising popularity. Some Pop Mart stores have even moved to “buy online, pick up in-store” only, meaning customers must order online first and collect their purchase from the store, according to Business Insider.
What is a Labubu? The dolls have created a frenzy
Almost every piece of merchandise inspired by Labubu and The Monsters line is sold out on Pop Mart’s website. The popularity has led to retailers online and in brick-and-mortar stores selling knockoffs.
The toy has even had people lining up outside of malls around the world and starting fights while instantly selling out, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The doll was designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung around 10 years ago, according to Business Insider.
Lung created three picture books inspired by Nordic mythology, Pop Mart’s website says. The book contains depictions of characters, both good and evil, in a fairy world. He called them The Monsters.
Labubu, “a small monster with high, pointed ears and serrated teeth,” is the most prominent character in the books.
The popularity of the dolls heightened earlier this year when K-pop star Lisa posted an Instagram video with one, per the LA Times.
What are Labubu Blind Boxes?
If you’ve walked into a Five Below or purchased a Miniverse toy from Target, you’ve seen a blind box.
They can contain toys or figurines from different properties, from Hello Kitty and Winnie the Pooh and their friends to popular anime characters. A blind box can contain anything.
Blind boxes are like gambling, but you still gain a toy once you open the box. Some of the blind boxes’ contents might be rarer than others, which can increase how valuable they are and how much collectors are willing to pay for them if they’re sold online.
USA TODAY reporter Julia Gomez contributed to this report.