With its rabbit-like ears, jagged teeth and wide-eyed grin, Labubu doesn’t look like the kind of toy destined to become a global sensation. Yet the quirky character from Beijing-based Pop Mart has become one of the hottest collectibles in the world.
And it it is making its trendy way to the South Shore.
Pop Mart says on its website that a store is “coming soon” to South Shore Plaza in Braintree, though no opening date has been announced. The South Shore Plaza’s website says the same. Pop Mart also recently confirmed a location at the Natick Mall, marking its first official outlet in the state.
What is a Labubu doll?
The dolls were created about a decade ago by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and are now sold worldwide by Pop Mart. Their popularity is fueled by the company’s “blind box” model, in which customers don’t know which figure they’ve purchased until opening the package.
Labubu, the signature figure in Pop Mart’s “The Monsters” line, has also been described by collectors and toy writers as having a scruffy body, nine serrated teeth forming a mischievous smile, bug-like eyes and wild hair. Others compare it to an elf or goblin with exaggerated features and a devilish expression ‒ traits that make it an instantly recognizable favorite worldwide.
Pop Mart continues to drive demand through frequent app-based releases and limited editions. The company has rapidly expanded in the U.S., now operating 31 full stores, five pop-up locations and 53 Robo Shop vending machines nationwide as of July 2025, according to Axios.com.