Two new stores are about to give Mall of America shoppers a serious anime and collectibles fix. Bandai Namco Cross Store Minneapolis and THE GUNDAM BASE Minneapolis will both open their doors at the Bloomington mall on September 30, with opening-day perks including a free tote bag and a branded fanny pack for big spenders.
The dual opening was announced by Bandai Namco Amusement America, which confirmed both stores will mark the second U.S. locations for their respective retail concepts. That's a notable jump for two brands that only recently established a beachhead stateside, and it puts Minnesota on the map alongside New York and Illinois in Bandai's growing American footprint.
The Cross Store side of the operation is shaping up to be the bigger draw in terms of sheer variety. According to the company's announcement, the Minneapolis location will feature 15 official shops and brands, selling everything from character goods and toys to games, collectibles, stationery, and plush. Per reporting from Bring Me The News, that lineup is expected to include Banpresto, Mega Kawaii Shop, Tamagotchi Shop, Tamashii Nations, and the Bandai Namco Anime Station, alongside Namco and a Bandai Card Games Official Store.
Second Cross Store Follows Brooklyn Debut
The concept isn't brand new to the U.S. — the first Bandai Namco Cross Store opened inside Japan Village in Brooklyn, according to Bandai's own announcement. That Industry City location officially opened on February 28, 2025, as reported by Otaku USA Magazine, and it set the template Minneapolis shoppers can expect: a Tamagotchi Shop, PAC-MAN Select, a Bandai Spirits Hobby Shop, and a One Piece Card Game Official Shop, plus gashapon capsule machines and arcade amusements including Taiko no Tatsujin.
Right next door at Mall of America, THE GUNDAM BASE Minneapolis will cater to a more specific crowd: builders. The store will offer a wide selection of GUNPLA, including exclusive and limited-edition model kits, tools, accessories, and other Gundam merchandise, per the same Bandai announcement. Fans can also explore displays and exhibits showcasing the world of Gundam and GUNPLA, giving the space a museum-like feel alongside the retail counter.
Chicago Set the Template Just Months Ago
This won't be the first Gundam Base in the country — that honor belongs to Rosemont, Illinois, where the brand's first official U.S. store opened on December 12, 2025, at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago, according to Bandai's own release announcing that debut.
Bandai Namco announced that THE GUNDAM BASE Minneapolis will open September 30.
Gundam Base Expands in the U.S.
The Minneapolis store will add another U.S. location for THE GUNDAM BASE.
Mall of America itself is no small backdrop for the launch — the Bloomington mall serves as a major consumer destination for North America and welcomes more than 32 million visitors annually, per Bandai's announcement. Both new stores will keep mall-friendly hours, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the PR Newswire release detailing the September 30 opening.
To mark the launch, opening celebrations will offer purchase-related perks for early shoppers. The Cross Store is offering a free tote bag with any purchase, while THE GUNDAM BASE is giving out a branded fanny pack to customers spending at least $100, with both promotions available while supplies last.
