Easily the most popular part of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise for collectors are the various Gundam model kits, with entire stores dedicated to these collectibles. Now, more of them are popping up around the globe, with fans in America able to look forward to two more locations.
Bandai is adding two new locations for The Gundam Base in the United States of America, with this announcement coming almost a year after the opening of the first such permanent U.S. store. These will be located in one of America’s most iconic malls, as well as a particularly rainy part of Washington. While exclusive merchandise and model kits have yet to be revealed for either store, fans will be able to visit both by the end of the year.
Washington and Minnesota Receive New Gundam Base Locations
Bandai Namco Amusement America Inc. (BNAA) and Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc. (BNTCA) are bringing more Gundam Base locations to the United States, speaking to the growing popularity of the brand. The announcement comes almost a year after the launch of THE GUNDAM BASE Chicago at Fashion Outlets of Chicago, the first permanent Gundam Base store in the country.
Most of these stores are located in Asia (primarily Japan, the home of the Mobile Suit Gundam brand), although the very first of these was launched in South Korea. Now, the next two American locations are set for other parts of the country, with one of them being in the country’s premiere shopping mall.
According to a Bandai representative, the company is “excited to continue expanding THE GUNDAM BASE across the United States with the opening of our new locations in Minneapolis and Seattle. We look forward to welcoming both new and longtime Gundam fans to THE GUNDAM BASE.”
The Gundam Base Minneapolis will be in the legendary Mall of America, while The Gundam Base Seattle will be in the Westfield Southcenter. Both locations are set to open in fall 2026, roughly a year after the opening of The Gundam Base Chicago. This suggests that other stores may be opened at a similar pace, eventually dotting the major cities of the United States with their own specialized Gundam stores.
More details will be released as the new spots get closer to opening, and this likely means that there will be several exclusive model kits on the way.
Beginning back in 1979, Mobile Suit Gundam introduced the “Real Robot” mecha anime subgenre, eschewing the more cartoonish elements of preceding Super Robot anime. It was followed years later by Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, cementing its place as an evergreen franchise and the premiere name in the mecha genre.
Becoming a pop culture staple in Japan beyond almost any other anime, Gundam is most well-known for the various Gundam plastic model kits that have been released for each entry in the brand. These range from diminutive “super-deformed” SD Gundam to gigantic Master Grade Gundam model kits and Perfect Grade model kits.
The various Gundam Base stores also always have their own exclusive kits, making the opening of two new stores all the more exciting for fans.
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