The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck stopped at the Shops at Skyview on Saturday, May 9.
Photo by Alice Moreno
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Hello Kitty and her friends visited Flushing this past weekend, bringing joy and delicious treats to those who are fans of Sanrio from all five boroughs.
Photo by Alice Moreno
On May 9, Sanrio – a Japanese-based company that spawned iconic characters such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi and more – hosted their Hello Kitty Cafe Truck. Located in front of the entrance to the Shops at Skyview in Flushing, fans waited over an hour in line during a light rainstorm to purchase their newest line of merchandise, such as cookies, macarons and madelines, as well as products, including mugs, sweaters, plushies and T-shirts.
Fans were able to purchase new Hello Kitty-themed food and merchandise. Photo by Alice Moreno
“[The truck] is a place where friends and family and the community come and make memories,” said Urania Chen, managing partner of the cafe. “It’s all infused with Hello Kitty. I’m a Hello Kitty superfan, and it’s one of those projects that I worked on. It’s the job of my dreams.”
Photo by Alice Moreno
The truck is based in California, where its brick-and-mortar flagship cafe is located. There are three trucks – the west loop, central loop and east loop – that travel around the United States, stopping at local malls along the way.
Photo by Alice Moreno
The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck made its debut in October 2014 in Southern California. It is operated by Chen, who pitched the idea to Sanrio. Now, the truck makes over 100 stops yearly.
Photo by Alice Moreno
This weekend, the Hello Kitty cafe truck will stop at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fans are advised to arrive early, as lines can last for hours.
Photo by Alice Moreno
“[The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck] is [about] bringing Hello Kitty in your life every day in a relatable situation,” Chen said. “It’s a place where fans can connect and have fun, and a lot of these people become friends because of that shared interest, so it’s really cool to be a part of that.”
Photo by Alice Moreno
For more information on the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, visit sanrio.com/blogs/hellokittycafe/hello-kitty-cafe-trucks?srsltid=AfmBOoqT21WNa-_1XAQ8Ml_vYIQjWYJU9rE1SXNpc02IIgiGsPM6xnOy.
Photo by Alice Moreno