Pop Mart opening first NC store at Crabtree Valley Mall this spring

Pop Mart will open its first North Carolina brick-and-mortar store at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh this spring, the mall announced Monday. The shop will be located on the lower level near Center Court and is billed as the chain’s first physical North Carolina presence, a move likely to draw collectors to the heart of the mall.

The company is described as an international toy and pop-culture retailer known for collectible blind-box toys and immersive in-store displays, and the Crabtree location is expected to offer an assortment of collectible figures and special releases from brands including Labubu (appearing in some notices as Labubus), Molly, Skullpanda and Dimoo. The mix of blind-box figures and limited drops has been a core part of Pop Mart’s retail model and is cited as a primary reason the brand attracts repeat foot traffic.

Pop Mart was founded in 2010 and, by the counts released in coverage, currently operates 120 Robo Shops or vending machines and 65 brick-and-mortar locations in the United States. Those figures place the Crabtree opening within a broader U.S. footprint that combines staffed stores and automated retail points; it has not been clarified whether the Crabtree shop will include Robo Shops or vending machines inside the space near Center Court.

Local property and leasing staff have signaled enthusiasm for the arrival. Jill Bryant wrote on LinkedIn, "Something fun is coming to Crabtree Valley Mall… 👀 We’re thrilled to announce that Pop Mart is opening soon! Known for their wildly popular collectible figures, they’ll bring a fresh, high-energy retail experience to the property." Bryant’s post included hashtags tying the announcement to the mall property and the Raleigh-Durham market.

A specific calendar date for the Crabtree opening has not been released beyond the statement that the store will open "this spring." News coverage also notes that Crabtree Valley Mall is already home to several toy stores, positioning Pop Mart among an existing cluster of toy and collectible options in the Raleigh shopping center. Details such as store square footage, employee counts, planned opening events, and whether the store will house in-store Robo Shops remain unannounced.

Pop Mart’s arrival at Center Court will be a visible test of demand for collectible pop-culture retail in Raleigh; with 65 U.S. locations and 120 automated points of sale reported, the chain’s Crabtree shop will expand the mall’s offerings and potentially drive repeat visits from collectors seeking special releases this spring.