Pop Mart Opens New Deptford Mall Store Near Center Court

Pop Mart landed at Deptford Mall over the weekend of March 7-8, planting its colorful footprint on the first level near Center Court directly across from Foot Locker. The opening adds a third full brick-and-mortar location to the region, joining existing stores at Cherry Hill Mall and Christiana Mall alongside several Robo Shop vending machine installations scattered throughout South Jersey.

Mark Matthews of 42Freeway stopped in on March 9 and toured the store with local manager Ashley, describing the interior as "a bright, fun, and creative space that perfectly fits the modern Asian retail style." During his visit, Matthews spotted a strong selection of Disney, SpongeBob, and Labubu toys on the floor, along with shelves representing collections including Molly, The Monsters, Peach Riot, and Dimoo. Brand collaborations cover considerable ground: Disney, Harry Potter, Marvel, DC, and Hello Kitty all have a presence in the lineup.

Labubu remains the marquee draw. The characters, designed by artist Kasing Lung for the series "The Monsters," are available at Deptford in both figurine and plush form, their grinning faces drawing comparisons to the creatures from Maurice Sendak's "Where The Wild Things Are." The collection's mainstream breakout is widely traced to K-Pop group BLACKPINK, whose members began clipping Labubu figures to their bags and sparked a wave of visibility that carried the toys from celebrity circles to coffee shop counters across the country.

The blind-box format is central to the entire Pop Mart experience. Products arrive in sealed packaging, so the specific figure inside stays unknown until the box is opened. Displays throughout the Deptford store lay out every possible figure in a given collection, often around a dozen distinct styles, but buying one is still a gamble. Many series also hide a rare "secret" figurine that doesn't appear on any display, which keeps the hunt going well past a single purchase.

The Deptford opening is the latest step in a rapid regional and national expansion. Cherry Hill Mall received South Jersey's first Pop Mart store last summer. The China-based company, founded in 2010, planted its first permanent U.S. location at American Dream Mall in Bergen County in 2023. According to a Pop Mart representative, the business now operates 50 brick-and-mortar stores and 95 Robo Shop vending units across the United States.

Deptford Mall managers first hinted at the new tenant on their Facebook page on September 29, posting a photo of a walled-off construction site marked with the Pop Mart logo, cartoon characters, and "Coming Soon" in bold print. The store opened roughly five months after that preview, putting a full Pop Mart retail experience within reach of collectors who had previously relied on vending machines or a drive to Cherry Hill.