Pop Mart expanding with new Bay Area location

Chinese retailer known for collectible dolls opening store at Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:21pm by Ben Kaplan

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Pop Mart, a popular Chinese retailer known for its collectible Labubu dolls and 'blind box' toy format, is expanding its Bay Area footprint with a new location set to open at Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo this weekend. The store will be the company's 5th in the region, building on the success of its existing stores in San Francisco.

Why it matters

Pop Mart's expansion into the Peninsula highlights the continued demand for its unique retail concept, which has capitalized on the global popularity of character-based toys and blind box collectibles. The new Hillsdale location will further solidify the brand's presence in the Bay Area, which has become a key market for the company's U.S. growth.

The details

The new Pop Mart store at Hillsdale Shopping Center will open on March 14, 2026, becoming the company's 5th location in the Bay Area. Pop Mart's existing stores in San Francisco, including at Stonestown Galleria and Union Square, have drawn large crowds and long lines, with some shoppers even waiting overnight to get limited edition offerings. The Hillsdale opening is part of Pop Mart's broader U.S. expansion, with the company now operating more than 65 brick-and-mortar stores across the country and over 550 globally.

  • Pop Mart opened its first San Francisco location at Stonestown Galleria in August 2024.
  • Pop Mart opened its second San Francisco store in Union Square in September 2025.
  • Pop Mart's new Hillsdale Shopping Center location is set to open on March 14, 2026.

The players

Pop Mart

A Chinese retailer known for its collectible Labubu dolls and 'blind box' toy format, with over 550 stores globally and more than 65 locations in the U.S.

Tyson Bolliger

Head of retail operations for the Americas at Pop Mart.

Hillsdale Shopping Center

A shopping mall located in San Mateo, California, where Pop Mart is opening a new store.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to open our newest Bay Area location at Hillsdale Shopping Center and introduce more fans to the world of POP MART. Our goal is to create a space where art, storytelling, and collectible design come together, giving visitors the chance to discover their favorite characters and experience the imagination behind our brand.”

— Tyson Bolliger, Head of retail operations for the Americas at Pop Mart (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The new Pop Mart store at Hillsdale Shopping Center is scheduled to open on March 14, 2026.

The takeaway

Pop Mart's expansion into the Peninsula with a new Hillsdale Shopping Center location demonstrates the continued popularity of the brand's unique retail concept, which has resonated with Bay Area consumers and helped drive the company's broader U.S. growth strategy.