Sanrio and Build-A-Bear are partnering to bring even more fun to fans across the U.S. with Hello Kitty and Friends plushies.
Build-A-Bear Workshop is partnering with Sanrio to bring more Hello Kitty and Friends experiences to the U.S. In early 2026, new Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshops will open in New Jersey’s American Dream mall (East Rutherford) and Minnesota’s Mall of America (Bloomington), according to Per License Global.
Sanrio & Build-A-Bear Open New Hello Kitty and Friends Workshops for American Fans
A popular new attraction opened in Los Angeles in 2024, letting fans of all ages create their own personalized plush toys. Visitors can design custom versions of beloved Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and Kuromi, complete with outfits, scents, sounds, and accessories.
Chris Hurt, COO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, explained that since opening in Los Angeles, it was clear people really enjoyed the experience. Expanding to American Dream and Mall of America allows them to welcome visitors from all over the world who already visit these famous locations.
According to a Sanrio executive, the collaboration with Build-A-Bear is a unique way to bring their characters to life. After a successful launch in Los Angeles, the partnership is expanding to locations in American Dream and Mall of America, allowing fans of all ages to connect with the characters in a meaningful and memorable way.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, established in 1997, lets customers design their own stuffed animals. You pick the animal, then help stuff it and choose its accessories. Starting with a single store in St. Louis, Missouri, Build-A-Bear has grown to over 500 locations in more than a dozen countries around the world.
Sanrio continues to expand its retail presence with the recent announcement of new Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop locations. This follows November’s news of a new Sanrio store opening in Tokyo’s Harajuku district, specifically in the Takeshita Street Square building. The store will feature exclusive products, plus food and drinks, and is scheduled to open on December 11th.
The upcoming Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshops, planned to open in 2026, are expected to be very popular and remain successful for years. The new Hello Kitty movie, originally announced in 2019 and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, New Line Cinema, and FlynnPictureCo., is currently scheduled for release in the U.S. on July 21, 2028.
The upcoming Hello Kitty movie will be directed by Leo Matsuda, who previously worked on The Simpsons Movie and Zootopia. Dana Fox, a co-writer of Wicked, is currently working on the script. Producer Beau Flynn has spent nearly ten years negotiating with Sanrio’s founder, Shintaro Tsuji, to obtain the rights and develop the film.
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2025-12-08 22:36