Bandai Namco's First US Anime Store Arrives in American Dream Mall

Bandai Namco, the company behind super popular brands like Gundam, Pac-Man, and Naruto, is opening its first-ever store in the Western Hemisphere. The Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles store will open on May 31st at the huge American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

This new store will be heaven for anime fans and will sell a wide selection of toys and collectible figures from Bandai's famous brands like Tamashii Nations and Tamagotchi. Fans can expect to find merch from well-known anime series - Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, Demon Slayer, and the brand new hit Spy x Family.

Life-size statues of favorite characters will be at the front of the store, perfect for snapping pics with. And rumor has it, the iconic Pac-Man character might even make a special in-person appearance!

The American Dream mall is becoming a hot hangout spot for members of various fandoms. Just this month, the Miniso store opened, offering cute collectibles inspired by Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty. And in June, a massive 41,500 square-foot Gameroom by Hasbro is opening, with attractions based on brands like Transformers, My Little Pony, and Nerf.

Anime is on the rise in the US. The western part of the country recently got the first official One Piece themed restaurant launched in Las Vegas, bringing the world of the popular manga/anime series to Nevada diners.