Pop Mart to Open Brick-and-Mortar Store Near Lovesac at Freehold Raceway Mall

Pop Mart confirmed a new brick-and-mortar location at Freehold Raceway Mall, 3710 Route 9 in Freehold, N.J., positioning the store next to Lovesac and between Lovesac and Oshkosh B'Gosh/Carter's, according to local coverage and mall materials. Several outlets describe the unit as a lower-level or first-level storefront; one report says the space was part of the old Apple Store before Apple moved to a larger mall location.

Timing for the Freehold shop is reported inconsistently. One report by David P. Willis states, "Pop Mart ... will open a store in March at Freehold Raceway Mall." Other coverage and the mall's public listing describe the new retailer as "coming soon" and avoid a specific date. Mall promotional copy circulated by Macerich teases that "Next month, the mall is welcoming a brand new retailer," but did not provide an on-the-record opening date.

Mall officials framed the addition as part of a broader wave of new tenants. Frank Lucia, Senior Property Manager at Freehold Raceway Mall, said, "POP MART brings a unique blend of art, entertainment, and collectability that resonates with today's culture-driven consumers." Mall materials also note larger changes at the center, including the conversion of the former Lord & Taylor into Dick's House of Sport and an incoming major department store new to the area.

The Freehold announcement distinguishes a full Pop Mart shop from the mall's current automated presence. WPST noted, "Freehold Raceway Mall currently has a Pop Mart Robo Shop on the upper level near the Food Court. The new Pop Mart store will be located on the lower level, between Love Sac and Oshkosh B'Gosh/Carter's." That Robo Shop will remain a separate, vending-based format while the announced location is described as a full retail experience.

Coverage repeated Pop Mart's global footprint in varying figures. Patch reports the company has "opened over 550 offline stores and more than 2,500 Robo Shops across 20+ countries and regions, while reaching consumers in over 90 nations through multiple cross-border e-commerce platforms." Another local outlet summarized the brand as having "more than 500 stores in over 30 countries." Patch also noted a U.S. presence of "120+ Robo Shops and 65+ brick-and-mortar locations nationwide" and listed other New Jersey Pop Mart stores in Cherry Hill, Elizabeth, Bridgewater, and American Dream Mall in East Rutherford.

The Freehold shop is being sold as an experiential outpost of the blind-box phenomenon that popularized characters such as Labubu and The Monsters. Patch quoted officials saying, "From casual collectors to devoted enthusiasts, the store offers something for everyone seeking a touch of joy and creativity in their day," and Patch summarized Pop Mart's mission as "to light up passion and bring joy." Newsbreak framed the physical store as experiential: "This isn’t your typical shop ... It’s more of an experience. Think imagination meets design."

Mall listings currently show the Pop Mart unit as "Coming soon." Pop Mart and mall management have not released a public ribbon-cutting schedule or detailed in-store programming; local collectors and shoppers are watching for confirmation of the March opening claim and for announcements about launch exclusives.