Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota is soon to be home to the Malibu Barbie Cafe, an interactive pop-up restaurant inspired by the iconic doll.
The Barbie-themed dining experience from Mattel and Bucket Listers, a media experience brand, already has locations in New York and Chicago.
“We pride ourselves on creating exclusive experiences for our growing community of 15 million+ fans, concepts they just won’t find anywhere else,” said Bucket Listers CEO and founder Andy Lederman.
“Barbie has proven to be one of history’s ultimate icons, we couldn’t pass up this chance to expand this signature restaurant experience to the Twin Cities.”
New interactive pop-up restaurant
Opening in September, the “Barbiecore”-style pop-up restaurant is inspired by 1970s Malibu, when Malibu Barbie was first introduced. As well as F&B, the venue will offer exclusive merchandise and interactive activities.
Julie Freeland, senior director of location-based entertainment at Mattel, said the Malibu Barbie Cafe is a “unique dining experience that celebrates the Barbie brand”.
“At Mattel we are always looking for exciting, new ways to bring the Barbie experience to life. From the décor to the menu, every detail has been thoughtfully designed to celebrate the iconic Barbie style,” she added.
“Barbie is back and has taken the world by storm,” said Carrie Charleston, vice president of leasing at Mall of America.
Elsewhere, Mattel’s new theme park in Arizona will feature a life-size Barbie Beach House, which includes hologram technology to bring Barbie to life, as well as a rooftop bar and restaurant.
In the UK, Mattel has teamed up with Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre and events company Bakehouse Factory to launch a new Barbie experience this autumn.
The new Barbie experiences follow the release of Greta Gerwig‘s 2023 film Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Since the movie’s release it has grossed more than $1 billion (£786 million) worldwide.
