Shoppers are flocking to a new retail destination in Melbourne, Australia, which has been described as a "theme park-style shopping experience." The store, MINISO FRIENDS, opened on Saturday at the Melbourne Central mall and offers a curated selection of popular culture merchandise.
The store features aisles filled with plush toys, blind boxes, tech gadgets, stationery, and beauty products, drawing inspiration from beloved franchises. Among the offerings are items from Disney, Pixar, Pac-Man, Pokémon, and Star Wars. The opening has seen excited customers lining up to purchase collectibles and exclusive items.
MINISO FRIENDS is organized into distinct sections dedicated to well-known pop culture franchises. This includes a special collection for "Toy Story 5." Shoppers have expressed enthusiasm for the store's atmosphere and product selection, with one visitor noting, "I could spend hours in there... I wanted to buy everything."
Another customer described the space as an "upgraded version of MINISO" and likened walking through it to entering "a mini theme park." The concept has been particularly appealing to collectors, with one shopper calling it a "collectible lover's dream."
The store's inventory consists of approximately 80 percent licensed collectibles and merchandise. This launch follows the recent opening of MINISO LAND in Sydney, which spans over 800 square meters and offers more than 7,000 items, including exclusive collaborations with brands like Disney, Hello Kitty, Super Mario, and anime series such as Pokémon and One Piece.
MINISO FRIENDS aims to create an immersive environment with themed areas showcasing characters like Winnie the Pooh, Lilo & Stitch, Miffy, Dragon Ball Z, Sylvanian Families, and Care Bears. The retailer has indicated plans for further expansion, with regular product restocks and additional store openings in other cities. MINISO currently operates stores across various Australian states, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia.