Pop Mart, a Chinese lifestyle and entertainment company known for its popular Labubu figurines, has announced the opening of its U.S. headquarters in Culver City, California. The move marks the company’s expansion into the American market, as it seeks to bring its unique brand of collectible toys and immersive retail experiences to a global audience.
Pop Mart’s Expansion into North America
Pop Mart, the Chinese toymaker known for its collectible Labubu dolls, has opened a new office building in Culver City as it seeks to expand its North American presence. The 22,000-square-foot office will serve as Pop Mart’s new U.S. headquarters, according to real estate data provider CoStar, which earlier reported the deal.
Pop Mart, founded in 2010 in Beijing, is credited with fueling the frenzy over ‘blind boxes’ — small, collectible toys sold in packaging that keeps the exact figure inside a surprise until it is unsealed. The toymaker, which is publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, has nearly 600 physical stores across 18 countries, according to its September 2025 half-year financial report.
Much of Pop Mart’s recent growth has concentrated in the U.S. In the first half of last year, the company opened 40 new stores, including 19 in the Americas. In Southern California, it now has stores in Westfield Century City, Glendale Galleria, and Westfield UTC Mall in La Jolla.
Culver City’s Transformation
Pop Mart’s decision to root itself in L.A.’s Westside comes amid Culver City’s transformation from a sleepy suburb known for being the home to Sony Pictures Studios to an urban hub, driven, in part, by the Expo Line station that opened in 2012.
Big tech has played an important role in Culver City’s recent evolution. Recent additions include Apple, which has opened a studio and has been building a larger office campus; Amazon, which in 2022 unveiled a massive virtual production stage; and Tiktok, which in 2020 opened a five-floor office featuring a content creation studio. Pinterest has a new office in Culver City as of last month, according to the company’s LinkedIn account.
Ikea recently announced plans to open a 40,000-square-foot store in Culver City’s historic Helms Bakery complex — its first in L.A.’s Westside — later this spring. This move further solidifies Culver City’s transformation into an urban hub, attracting both tech giants and retail giants alike.
The Labubu Phenomenon
A Labubu fan wears Labubu keychains on her purse while shopping at a Pop Mart at Westfield Century City, showcasing the popularity of these collectible dolls. Pop Mart’s Labubu line has become a cultural phenomenon, with fans eagerly seeking out the latest releases and displaying their collections with pride.
The blind box concept pioneered by Pop Mart has fueled a sense of excitement and anticipation among collectors, who never know which Labubu figure they’ll receive until they open the package. This element of surprise has contributed to the brand’s success, as fans are drawn to the thrill of the hunt and the joy of discovering a rare or coveted figure.
As Pop Mart expands its presence in North America, the Labubu craze is likely to continue gaining momentum, with more fans seeking out these collectible dolls and incorporating them into their daily lives, as seen with the Labubu keychain-adorned purse in the image.