The void left by Toys “R” Us in Times Square, New York, is filled today with the opening of LINE Friends.
Mr. Brown, Cony, James, Sally, Pangyo, and of course, Moon, in different shapes, are no strangers to the 217 million LINE users in the world.
Unfortunately only a small portion of them has the chance to visit the first flagship store in the U.S.
Opened for just two days, the store has been flooded with enthusiastic visitors busy taking selfies with their big stuffed friends.
From T-shirts, pajamas, staples, school bags, to cell phone covers, girls and guys, kids and adults are all fascinated and eager to pick one for their collection or as a gift.
The sweet tempered Mega Brown is patiently taking photos with everyone, letting people write on his fur their heartfelt love.
For some people, there seems a natural boundage with LINE characters.
Girl: “He just looks like Brown.”
Boy: “I am not a person with vivid expressions, so she always says that I look like Brown.”
The Times Square LINE Friends store is the first in U.S. and among the 74 stores around the world, including those in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Seoul.
Their aim is to bring the number to 100 in the next three years.
