The Pop Mart expansion in Canada is officially underway with the opening of the company’s first store at CF Richmond Centre near Vancouver. The launch marks the beginning of a multi-phase entry into the market as the Beijing-based collectibles company accelerates its global growth strategy. The Richmond store opened quietly with no advance promotion, attracting steady crowds from the moment the lights came on.
Known for its character-driven blind-box collectibles featuring Labubu, Skullpanda, Molly, Dimoo, Crybaby and other internationally recognized IPs, Pop Mart has scaled quickly across Asia, Europe and the United States. Canada represents the next step in that expansion as the brand moves to increase its presence across North America.
“We are excited to now be open in Vancouver. Canada has always been a priority for Pop Mart,” said Luis Barrientos, Executive Vice President of Business Development for Pop Mart Americas. He said the brand had seen significant engagement through social media and e-commerce platforms, and the company wanted to meet that demand with in-person experiences shaped around creativity and community.
Metropolis at Metrotown to Follow Within Days
The 1,325 square foot Richmond store will be followed immediately by a second location at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby. According to Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Retail Group, who represents Pop Mart in Canada, the Metrotown store is scheduled to open within days of the Richmond launch.
The Metrotown store sits in one of the highest-traffic shopping centres in the country and will serve as a key anchor for the brand in Greater Vancouver. Both British Columbia locations will offer the full Pop Mart retail experience with interactive displays, blind-box drops and popular character lines stocked for the Canadian market.
A third location at Toronto Premium Outlets in Halton Hills is expected to open later this year. Signage has been installed at the centre, and construction work is underway. The store will introduce the brand to Ontario and will become Pop Mart’s first location east of British Columbia.
The outlet centre is a major regional draw, and the store is expected to attract both local fans and tourists who have followed Pop Mart online. Canada’s collector community has grown significantly in recent years, with dedicated social media groups and resale communities tracking new releases and global restocks.
At Least Ten More Canadian Stores Planned for 2026
The early openings are part of a wider rollout. Berkowitz said that Pop Mart intends to open a much larger network of stores across the country starting next year.
“In 2026 we would expect at least ten more stores across Canada in major markets,” he said. “The hunt is on in all major markets.”
He said that the company has already committed to several Canadian locations, although some will not become available until spring. The pace of expansion will intensify as more leases are finalized and additional Canadian operations staff are brought on.
Berkowitz added that Pop Mart is already considering larger spaces as part of the future plan. “The demand has been off the charts and even the average store size requirements have grown. We are already looking at a larger footprint before we even open the first stores.”
Pop Mart seeks 2,000-2,500 square feet for stores and has discussed the potential for flagship locations in larger urban markets. While no downtown or street-front stores have been announced, Berkowitz said the option remains open.
Building a Presence in a High-Growth Global Network
Pop Mart’s entry into Canada comes during a period of rapid global expansion. The company now operates more than five hundred stores across thirty countries with approximately two thousand three hundred robotic vending “Robo Shops” and more than five hundred international distributors. Recent openings include flagship stores in Paris, Milan, New York and Sydney, as well as a super-flagship on Australia’s Gold Coast. The company also operates its own theme park in Beijing called Pop Land.
International sales now account for up to thirty percent of the company’s revenue. Executives have stated that the goal is to reach a fifty percent contribution through continued overseas growth. Canada’s demographic profile and strong fandom communities make it a natural part of this strategy.
Strong Fandom Drives Demand for Canadian Stores
Online communities in Canada have played an important role in the early success of the Pop Mart expansion in Canada. Fans have organized through social platforms to share release dates, restock notices and store updates. Labubu, one of the brand’s most recognizable characters, has emerged as a major driver of demand, with resale markets and collector groups pushing the character to mainstream awareness.
Pop Mart’s stores are known for creating high-engagement environments with an emphasis on discovery and frequent product turnover. This retail approach has consistently generated lineups at store openings around the world, and the response in Richmond suggests similar momentum is likely in the Canadian market.
Barrientos said the brand intends to engage Canadian fans directly in the months ahead through influencer campaigns, media projects and experiential activations. Additional announcements are expected next year as Pop Mart increases its retail footprint and grows its Canadian operations team to support the expansion.
The company’s strategy aligns with a shift toward experiential retail and collectible culture, which continues to attract young consumers and crossover audiences ranging from fashion enthusiasts to art collectors.
Really? You have to be kidding me. They are opening a chain of stores for that?