When Chinese collectible toy phenomenon Pop Mart opened its 24th U.S. location at the Galleria Dallas mall last spring, social media vloggers documented hundreds of fanatic shoppers arriving the night before and then inching their way through retractable belt stanchions the next day to finally enter the store and purchase coveted Labubu collectibles. Pop Mart’s reception in Dallas may be over the top compared to the more standard welcome that other international brands receive in the United States, but foreign retailers and food-and-beverage operators are nevertheless discovering enthusiastic U.S. shopper …
