Mall of America just landed two new stores that anime fans, gamers and collectors across Minnesota have been waiting for. Bandai Namco, Japan’s largest toy company, is opening the Bandai Namco Cross Store and The Gundam Base in Bloomington, with both set to open October 30.
These are only the second U.S. locations for each concept. Until now, Twin Cities fans had to travel to New York for the Cross Store or Chicago for The Gundam Base.
What’s Inside the Bandai Namco Cross Store
The Cross Store is really 15 shops and brands sharing one space. It covers anime, video games and toys, with brands like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Pac-Man, Tekken, Tamagotchi and Digimon represented.
Shoppers can expect capsule-toy vending machines, collectibles, trading cards, Tamagotchi merchandise, anime merchandise, hobby kits, model-building products and character plushies. The store is designed around seeing, touching and experiencing the products, not just grabbing something off a shelf.
The first U.S. Cross Store opened in New York in early 2025, which makes the Bloomington location the second in the country.
The Gundam Base Brings Gunpla to Minnesota
The Gundam Base is an official Gunpla destination. Gunpla is short for Gundam plastic models, the build-it-yourself kits tied to Mobile Suit Gundam, a science fiction anime that dates back to 1979.
The store will stock exclusive and limited-edition model kits, along with tools, accessories and other Gundam merchandise. Displays and exhibits are planned for both longtime builders and people discovering the hobby for the first time. The first U.S. Gundam Base opened in Chicago in December 2025.
Why Mall of America, and Why It Matters Locally
Bandai Namco says Mall of America’s scale, diverse audience and reputation for immersive retail made it the right spot for both concepts. That lines up with where the mall has been heading. Immersive, experience-driven tenants have been central to Mall of America’s leasing strategy.
There’s a broader local trend here too. Asian brands have been showing up across Twin Cities retail, and a Japanese company choosing Minnesota for two concepts at once says a lot about the buying power and fan base in this region.
For families in the east metro, this adds one more reason to make the drive to Bloomington, especially once winter settles in and indoor plans become the default. It’s the kind of destination that works for a parent with a curious kid and a lifelong collector at the same time. For more ideas on getting out and enjoying the area, check out [INTERNAL LINK: relevant blog post on Twin Cities things to do or east metro community guides].
Where to Find Them
Both stores are listed at 102 E. Broadway on the Mall of America website. Bandai Namco is owned by Tokyo-based Bandai Namco Holdings, a public company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange valued at about $8.9 billion, and the Bloomington openings are part of the company’s larger retail push across North America.
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