The Labubu craze is real. The adorable, weird little stuffed animals have been all the rage this season – amounting to gobsmacking lines at Labubu-carrying stores across the globe. This week, the curious little craze will take shape of a Labubu pop-up in Houston at Popfancy Dessert Bar.
So what is a Labubu?
The Labubu was initially created as a character by Hong Kong artist, Kasing Lung, in his series The Monsters. In his series, inspired by Nordic folklore, the Labubu were characterized by pointed ears, big eyes, and jagged teeth.
In 2015, the company How2Work brought the Labubu to life in the form of figurines before they gained larger notoriety via a collaboration with Pop Mart, which began selling them in blind boxes.
Since then, notable celebrities including Lisa in K-Pop group, BLACKPINK, sported various Labubu charms, rocketing Labubu into new levels of trendiness.
Labubu Pop-Up in Houston
The Labubu pop-up is a concept from Houston-based pop-up factory, Popfancy Dessert Bar. Located in the Bellaire area of Houston, Popfancy Dessert Bar is known for its seasonal pop-ups that often lean into anime, Korean and Japanese culture.
Most recently, the venue hosted the Spirit Onsen fan cafe, Konoha Maid Cafe, and Ninetails Hidden Ninja Hideout pop-ups.
Beginning June 27, Popfancy will unveil its latest pop-up: the Lucky Box Cafe: A Blindbox Bu-tique & Cafe.
“Suns out buns out,” the venue posted on Instagram. “Join us this summer for a special limited-time fancafe dedicated to all things cute! We’ve got a special Kawaii themed menu, mini clothing boutique for all your blind box buddies, and lot of exciting events planned throughout the summer!”
Labubu Houston Pop-up Menu
On top of immersive decor, the venue will offer a themed menu with eats and soft drinks based on the characters. Here, visitors can enjoy an array of sweet boba/sodas, shaved ice, sundaes, and savory dishes including Kawaii Curry, Miffy SLiders, Mermaid Noods, and Galaxy Noods.
Visiting the Labubu Pop-Up
The Labubu pop-up opens up at Popfancy Dessert Bar on June 27 at 9393 Bellaire Blvd a6, Houston, TX 77036. The experience will be open daily between 1 pm and 10 pm. As always, the pop-up is free to attend though the venue encourages visitors to make reservations beforehand to reduce the wait.