I've been getting DMs and emails for weeks. "Have you been to the Chicago store?" "Are you gonna get some Pop Mart Chicago photos for the blog?" "Is it better than the NYC one?"
Alright, alright. I hear you.
So I booked a train ticket, packed a half-empty backpack for the inevitable haul, and made the pilgrimage to Michigan Avenue. I went in with one mission: to document everything for you guys and give you the real, unfiltered scoop that you won't get from a press release or a random Yelp review.
This isn't just a store visit. For a collector, this is a field expedition.
First Impressions: It's… A Lot.
Walking up to the Pop Mart on Michigan Avenue feels different. It's not tucked away in a mall; it's right there on the Magnificent Mile, sandwiched between high-fashion brands. The location alone tells you everything about the brand's ambition. This isn't some niche hobby shop. This is a statement. A big, glossy, pastel-colored statement.
The first thing that hits you isn't a specific toy, but the light. The whole store is bathed in this bright, clean, almost clinical light that makes every colorful box pop. It's overwhelming in the best way possible. Your eyes don't know where to look first. A giant MOLLY statue here, a wall of SKULLPANDA there, the hypnotic glow of the Robo Shop in the corner.
It was busy. Not grand-opening-insane, but a steady, thrumming flow of people. A mix of hardcore collectors with their tote bags, curious tourists wandering in from the street, and families with kids whose eyes were the size of dinner plates. The energy is a weird mix of a museum, an arcade, and a candy store. If you're new to the scene and wondering "what is a Pop Mart" in the first place, this store is a dazzling, and maybe slightly intimidating, introduction.
I immediately noticed the layout is much more spacious than some other locations I've visited. The aisles are wider, which is a blessing. There's nothing worse than trying to gently shake a blind box to gauge its contents while bumping into three other people doing the same thing. This felt more like a gallery, which I appreciate.
The Main Event: The MOLLY Wall
You know me. I made a beeline for the MOLLY section. It's my home base, my area of expertise. And I gotta say, Chicago did not disappoint. They had a dedicated, multi-shelf display that was just a sea of that familiar, pouty-lipped face.
They had almost the full recent lineup. The MOLLY x Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary series was fully stocked. I watched a young woman pull the secret "Wonder Woman" MOLLY and her scream of pure joy was so genuine it made half the store smile. I checked my phone, that single figure is already flirting with $150-$180 on secondary markets. She just paid the retail price of about $15. That's the magic, right there. That's the feeling we're all chasing.
I was personally on the hunt for the MOLLY "A Boring Day with Molly" series, which has been harder to find lately. They had a fresh case. This is a good time for a real collector's tip: if you see a freshly opened case (the big cardboard box holding the 12 individual blind boxes), that's your best chance at a secret. The odds are what they are, but at least you know the case hasn't been picked over by people who know the "box weight trick" (which, by the way, rarely works on newer series, so don't waste your time).
I spent a good 20 minutes just looking at the display, taking in the sheer volume. It's one thing to see them online in our MOLLY collection, but it's another to see hundreds of them stacked up, each one a little box of potential. They also had a few of the larger 400% and 1000% MEGA Space Molly figures under glass. Seeing the 1000% "Watermelon" MOLLY in person… the photos don't do the size and presence of it justice. It's less a toy and more a piece of furniture.
Beyond MOLLY: The Rest of the Kingdom
As much as I love MOLLY, I had to do my due diligence for the rest of you. I tore myself away and explored.
The SKULLPANDA section was buzzing. "The Warmth" and "Image of Reality" series were the hot items. I noticed the stock on these was visibly lower than the MOLLY shelves. It seems Chicago collectors are big SKULLPANDA fans. If you're visiting specifically for a popular SKULLPANDA series, I'd go early in the day. I have a feeling this is the first section to sell out.
Then there was the wall of Dimoo. So much Dimoo. The "No One's Gonna Sleep Tonight" series is still a massive hit, and the little ghost and monster designs are just fantastic. They had a good amount of The Monsters by Kasing Lung, too, Labubu and Zimomo. The "Monsters Exciting Macaron" series was there, looking delicious. It's a series that could easily be on any "toys top toys' list" for this year, and seeing it fully stocked was a good sign of the store's inventory depth.
One thing that surprised me was a small section with some slightly older, less-hyped series. I saw a few boxes of PUCKY's "Sleeping Forest" series, which I haven't seen on shelves in a while. This is a pro-tip for any physical store visit: always scan the lower shelves and the corners. Sometimes you'll find a forgotten gem that's sold out everywhere online.
The Robo Shops and The High-Ticket Items
The Robo Shops, the giant blind box vending machines, are always a spectacle. The Chicago store has two. They were stocked with a mix of popular series. It's a fun, futuristic way to buy, but honestly, as a collector, I prefer holding the box. The tactile experience is part of the fun. Still, kids love it, and it's a huge draw.
The MEGA Collection display is where you see the serious, high-dollar items. We're talking the 1000% figures that retail for $800-$1200. They had a stunning MEGA SKULLPANDA "The Mare" 1000% that just commands attention. These aren't impulse buys; they're investments. Seeing them all together under bright lights reinforces the "art" part of "art toys." The scale of the Michigan Ave store really shows the incredible ambition of the people who own Pop Mart and their vision for the US market. It's a world away from the company's humble beginnings.
Real Talk: A Collector's Verdict on Pop Mart Chicago
Okay, let's get down to it. You've seen the `pop mart chicago photos`. You've heard my tour. Is it worth a special trip?
My answer: It depends on what kind of collector you are.
If you're new to Pop Mart, or if you live within a few hours of Chicago, then absolutely, one hundred percent, yes. It is a fantastic, immersive experience. It's the perfect way to understand the scope of this hobby and see all the different characters and series in one place. You can't beat the feeling of walking out with a bag full of boxes, the anticipation of the unboxing still ahead of you.
If you're a seasoned, hardcore collector from out of state... It's a tougher call. The experience is different from, say, my trip to Pop Mart NYC, which felt a bit more chaotic and dense. Chicago is more polished, more of a flagship. You will find most of the current, popular series. You probably won't find any super rare, vaulted grails sitting on a shelf. The inventory is deep, but it's also curated to be the most popular stuff. Don't go expecting to find a case of a series from 2019.
The staff was great, friendly and genuinely seemed to enjoy being there. I asked one employee about restocks, and she gave the standard, polite "We get shipments regularly, but we don't know exactly what's in them until we open them." It's the same story everywhere. As I've written before, trying to figure out when Pop Mart restocks is a fool's errand. You just have to get lucky.
My final haul? I grabbed half a case of the "Boring Day" MOLLYs (couldn't resist), a couple of SKULLPANDA "Image of Reality" boxes for a friend, and one Dimoo just for fun. I didn't pull the big MOLLY secret, but I did get the one with the little camera, which felt appropriate.
So there you have it. My personal tour and collection of `fotos de pop mart chicago` (for my Spanish-speaking friends who have been asking!). It's a beautiful, well-run store that perfectly captures the hype and excitement of the designer toy world. It might not be a secret-filled treasure chest for grizzled veterans, but it's an essential pilgrimage site for anyone who loves these little vinyl figures.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I have some boxes to open.
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