Bandai Namco Amusement America Inc. has officially confirmed that the highly anticipated launch of the Bandai Namco Cross Store and The Gundam Base at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is now scheduled for October 30, 2026. This announcement follows a one-month delay from the original September 30 target date, a postponement that the company addressed by expressing gratitude to the fan community for their patience and continued support during the final phases of store preparation. The dual-opening represents a significant milestone in the company’s strategic expansion into the North American retail market, positioning these flagship stores within one of the most high-traffic retail destinations in the United States.
A Revised Timeline for Expansion
The journey toward the Minnesota opening has been characterized by careful preparation and a commitment to delivering a premium brand experience. Originally slated for a late September debut, the project required additional lead time to ensure that both the Cross Store—which serves as a consolidated hub for various Bandai Namco properties—and The Gundam Base—a specialized boutique dedicated to the iconic plastic model kits known as Gunpla—met the rigorous operational standards established by the company’s global locations.
The chronology of this expansion reflects a broader trend of Japanese entertainment companies investing in dedicated brick-and-mortar footprints within the United States. Since the debut of the first North American Bandai Namco Cross Store in Brooklyn, New York, in February 2025, the company has methodically scaled its presence. That initial Brooklyn location served as a proof-of-concept, integrating ten distinct department shops to showcase the breadth of Bandai Namco’s intellectual properties, ranging from gaming and character merchandise to collectibles.
Following the success of the New York venture, the company turned its attention to the Midwest. In December 2025, Bandai Namco celebrated the opening of the first permanent U.S. Gundam Base store at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont, Illinois. The Minneapolis opening represents the next logical step in this regional strategy, tapping into the extensive consumer base that frequents the Mall of America, which remains one of the largest and most visited shopping complexes in the world.
The Global Strategy of Bandai Namco Amusement
To understand the scale of the Minneapolis launch, one must look at the global footprint of Bandai Namco Amusement. The company currently operates 13 Bandai Namco Cross Store locations across Japan, serving as centralized hubs for fans to engage with diverse media franchises. The international transition began in earnest in August 2023 with the opening of a location in Camden, London, followed by a second site in Birmingham.
The company’s approach to the UK market provided a blueprint for its U.S. strategy. By testing the waters with smaller Gashapon (capsule toy) shops—initially in Victoria Place, Ealing, Brighton, and Sheffield—Bandai Namco was able to gauge local interest and refine its product offerings. While some of these smaller kiosks have since closed, the brand has effectively integrated Gashapon areas into existing Namco Funscape locations throughout the United Kingdom, demonstrating a flexible approach to market penetration that relies on both specialized flagship stores and distributed point-of-sale kiosks.
The Gundam Base: A Global Phenomenon
At the heart of the Mall of America development is The Gundam Base, a retail experience that carries significant cultural weight. With over 30 official locations worldwide, the brand has cultivated a loyal following since the first store opened in South Korea in 2003. The Tokyo Gundam Base, established in 2017, serves as the spiritual home of the brand, emphasizing the intricate craftsmanship and assembly experience of Gunpla model kits.
The expansion of The Gundam Base into the U.S. is not merely a retail play; it is an effort to formalize a hobbyist market that has existed in the West for decades through hobby shops and online retailers. By establishing official locations in Illinois and now Minnesota, Bandai Namco is centralizing the supply chain and providing a dedicated space for community events, workshops, and exclusive product launches. This physical presence allows for a more immersive brand experience, where fans can view built displays, participate in model-building demonstrations, and access limited-edition kits that are rarely available through third-party retail channels.
Implications for the Minnesota Retail Landscape
The entry of these stores into the Mall of America is expected to have a noticeable impact on the local economy and the regional hobbyist community. The Mall of America, which sees millions of visitors annually, provides a high-visibility platform that will likely draw enthusiasts from across the Upper Midwest.
From an economic perspective, the opening signifies the continued viability of "experience-based retail." In an era where e-commerce dominates the purchase of physical goods, companies like Bandai Namco are betting that customers will travel to physical locations for the unique atmosphere and the ability to interact with the products before buying. For the Minnesota retail sector, this represents a diversification of the tenant base, moving away from traditional apparel-focused retail toward specialized, entertainment-driven destinations that cater to a highly engaged demographic.
Industry analysts observe that these stores act as "anchor attractions" rather than mere retail outlets. The combination of the Cross Store’s variety and The Gundam Base’s specialized focus creates a "destination effect" that can drive increased foot traffic to the surrounding area. This strategy is particularly effective for Japanese pop culture brands, which thrive on the sense of discovery and community that physical storefronts foster.
Official Stance and Community Engagement
While the delay of the Minneapolis opening caused a brief period of uncertainty for fans, the company’s communication has remained consistent. By providing updated information via their official website and social media channels—including the Bandai Namco Collectible Hobby Facebook page—the company has managed to maintain momentum.
Statements from the company indicate that the additional month of preparation was dedicated to ensuring that the store layout, inventory stocking, and staffing levels are optimized for the high volume of traffic expected at the Mall of America. For the staff at Bandai Namco Amusement America, the goal is to replicate the success of the Rosemont and Brooklyn locations while ensuring that the customer service experience remains consistent with the high standards expected by Japanese retail culture.
Future Outlook and Market Consolidation
Looking ahead, the success of the Minneapolis location will likely inform future expansion plans in North America. With a presence now established in the Northeast, the Midwest, and the Chicago area, the company has effectively blanketed key regions of the U.S. market. The next phase of development could involve exploring territories in the Pacific Northwest or the Southern United States, where interest in anime and model-building continues to grow at a steady pace.
Furthermore, the integration of Gashapon machines and smaller, modular retail concepts remains a core part of the long-term strategy. As the company continues to navigate the complexities of international supply chains and logistics, the ability to deploy smaller, agile retail formats alongside flagship stores will be critical.
The upcoming October 30 opening is more than just a date on a calendar; it is a testament to the maturation of the North American market for Japanese character-based goods. By providing a permanent home for these franchises, Bandai Namco is effectively building a bridge between its global headquarters in Japan and its rapidly growing fan base in the United States. As the doors open at the Mall of America, the focus will shift from the anticipation of the launch to the long-term sustainability of these stores as pillars of the local anime and hobbyist community. Whether this will lead to a broader wave of similar retail concepts from other Japanese entertainment giants remains to be seen, but the model established by Bandai Namco sets a high bar for excellence and community-focused engagement.
