A vending machine full of Labubus and Crybabies? Pop Mart arrives in Modesto
Fans of the popular collectible toy retailer Pop Mart — maker of Labubus and other hot collectible toys — no longer will have to drive out of Modesto to get the latest figurines and plushies, or worry if they are authentic.
On Friday, Oct. 10, Vintage Faire Mall installed a Robo Shop vending machine that dispenses Pop Mart collectibles. The Robo Shop is the first official Pop Mart retailer in the area and offers many of its most popular characters like Skullpanda, Molly, Dimoo, Crybaby, and The Monsters, known more commonly as Labubu.
Pop Mart sells many different toys as figurines, plush pendants, bags and other accessories, and most of them are sold as blind boxes. A blind box is a sealed package with the inside toy remaining a mystery until it is opened. This fuels the collecting craze as shoppers buy multiple blind boxes in hopes of getting the one they really want or completing an entire set of the series.
Established in 2010 in Beijing, Pop Mart has dominated the blind box collectible toy market, with over $1.2 billion in revenue worldwide. The nine-toothed, pointy-eared Labubus, described as mischievous monsters, have been one of the main reasons for its global appeal, with fans snatching up the items online and in stores as soon as they’re released.
Pop Mart has 500 stores and 2,300 Robo Shops around the world. The closest store to Modesto is in Pleasanton at the Stoneridge Shopping Center, and a store just opened last month at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento.
Shoppers may find Labubus at other stores in the region, including a number of mall kiosks, but they are not guaranteed authentic unless they are purchased through a Pop Mart store or Robo Shop. If you find yourself wondering if your toy is a Labubu or a Lafufu (the common name for a fake), Pop Mart items all come with a scannable QR code to check their authenticity.
The big, bright yellow vending machine in Vintage Faire is on the second floor, right outside of Furniture City and Daniel’s Jewelry store. It is open during regular mall hours and accepts card payments.
Customers can use the interactive screen to view the different series selections, and there is a lighted display showing samples of some of the toys available. A fully stocked machine can hold hundreds of items. There is no information yet on how often it will restock or when new items will be added.
“I saw the machine being added to the mall on TikTok, so I had to come and check it out,” said Brianna Ochoa. She works at another store in the mall that sells blind boxes and came to view the machine on her break. She said she is glad it’s here, as many people come into her store seeking Labubus, and now she can direct them to the machine.
A number of people stopped at the Robo Shop on Tuesday to browse or buy, some even gasping with surprise as they encountered the machine. “We have a Pop Mart now,” exclaimed one shopper before running back to her group to spread the word.
Vintage Faire Marketing Manager Amy MacPhail said this is part of a multi-property deal for mall operator Macerich. It includes Robo Shops at Vintage Faire, Fashion Fair in Fresno and Valley River Center Mall in Eugene, Oregon. The vending machine is slated for a 12-month term with options for extension at the end of the term.
For more information about Pop Mart, visit www.popmart.com/us.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
