A giant Totoro waits at a bus stop for the Cat Bus inside Shop No. 179 at Del Amo Fashion Center. It stands among wood-inspired interiors and more than 400 officially licensed Studio Ghibli items, from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind to The Boy and the Heron. This is Donguri Republic, the official Studio Ghibli merchandise shop, and according to VIZ Media's announcement it is the brand's first store in the United States. It also has an end date. VIZ lists the run as June 23 through December 31, 2026, and calls it "six months only."
That pairing of a first U.S. location with a fixed exit date sums up Del Amo this fall. Brand after brand has picked the Torrance mall for its first American, first Southern California or first South Bay store. Some arrive to stay. Others are tests with a closing day already set. For anyone who shops at Del Amo, the newest stores now come with a schedule.
A Six-Month Run on the Lower Level
Donguri Republic is on the Lower Level of the Outdoor Village, and the mall lists the Outdoor Village entrance as the closest way in. VIZ describes the brand as a well-known stop for Ghibli fans across Japan and Asia. Until this summer, U.S. fans had to travel overseas to visit one.
The opening came with a few perks. Shoppers who spent $100 or more got a limited-edition Donguri Republic Los Angeles tote while supplies lasted. Anyone with a Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 screening ticket could get film-style bookmarks with a qualifying purchase. The hours VIZ posted match the mall's regular schedule: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
As of this week, about two months of that run are left, and they overlap with holiday shopping. If a Ghibli piece is on someone's gift list, Torrance has the only U.S. Donguri Republic until December 31.
The Same Bet, Placed From Seoul and San Francisco
Donguri Republic is not the only first. In August, Seoul-founded accessories brand N. Cat opened at Del Amo on August 22, 2026. The company's August 26 release on PR Newswire called it the brand's first U.S. store. The shop carries jewelry, hair accessories, bags and lifestyle pieces. It sits on the Main Level near L'Occitane, closest to the Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ entrance.
Back in the Outdoor Village, Onigilly brings San Francisco's take on Japanese onigiri, the pressed rice balls made fresh to order. L.A. Business First described it as the rice ball shop's first Southern California location. WhatNow Los Angeles reported in January that it was also the first Onigilly franchise for its local owners. It is on the Main Level of the Outdoor Village and open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Rowan has also moved from "planned for summer" to open, with regular weekly hours on the Main Level near Macy's Women. The studio does ear piercing and sells hypoallergenic jewelry, and licensed nurses perform the piercings.
Here is how the firsts compare:
| Store | What it is | The first | Where in Del Amo | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donguri Republic | Official Studio Ghibli shop | First U.S. store | Lower Level, Outdoor Village, Shop No. 179 | Open through Dec. 31, 2026 |
| N. Cat | Seoul accessories brand | First U.S. store | Main Level near L'Occitane | Open since Aug. 22, 2026 |
| Onigilly | San Francisco onigiri shop | First Southern California location | Main Level, Outdoor Village | Open |
| ThirdLove | Intimates and essentials | First Southern California location | Main Level near Banana Republic | Expected in November |
| POP MART | Collectible toys | First South Bay location | Main Level near Macy's Women | Expected in November |
November Fills the Main Level
The bottom two rows are next. On October 15, L.A. Business First reported that Del Amo is adding six more tenants, including POP MART's first South Bay store and ThirdLove's first Southern California store, with most opening in November.
These openings have taken a while. When WhatNow first reported on ThirdLove at Del Amo in early June, it said the store would open that summer. The mall's ThirdLove page still says "Coming Soon" and places the store on the Main Level near Banana Republic. POP MART was given a fourth-quarter window in WhatNow's June report, and November still falls inside it. The mall lists the POP MART store on the Main Level near Macy's Women.
That corner near Macy's Women is filling up. Caitlyn Minimalist, a jewelry brand known for personalized, sentimental pieces at accessible prices, is opening on the Main Level near the same anchor. WhatNow Los Angeles reported that Director of Operations Michael Holcombe confirmed a grand opening for mid-November. The brand makes its jewelry in-house, handling everything from design through polishing and packaging. Founder Kate Kim started the company after designing a necklace that carried her grandfather's handwriting from a letter.
Once Rowan, POP MART and Caitlyn Minimalist are all open, the stretch near Macy's Women will hold a piercing studio, a collectible toy shop and a personalized jewelry store within steps of each other. All three are new to Del Amo this year.
Two Pop-Ups, Two Closing Days
The permanent stores are opening just as the temporary ones start to close. The first closing comes this weekend. Pop Mart's HIRONO After Dark pop-up is on the Main Level between Lululemon and BOSS. The mall's POP MART page says it runs until October 31. That makes Saturday the last day.
The HIRONO pop-up has been holding POP MART's place at Del Amo while the permanent store gets ready. Each change in the mall's tenant list over the next ten weeks lands on a specific date:
- Saturday, October 31: last day for the Pop Mart HIRONO After Dark pop-up between Lululemon and BOSS.
- November: POP MART and ThirdLove are expected to open.
- Saturday, November 14: Santa arrives at Del Amo, and photo reservations are open now.
- Mid-November: Caitlyn Minimalist holds its grand opening near Macy's Women.
- Thursday, December 24: Santa's last day at the mall.
- Thursday, December 31: Donguri Republic's limited run ends.
The mall suggests booking Santa photos early to get a spot. Families who want a Santa photo and a Totoro photo on the same trip have six weeks, from November 14 through Christmas Eve, when both are at Del Amo.
Still Marked "Coming Soon"
Two more arrivals are on the mall's homepage without opening dates. Olive Young, the Korean beauty retailer, is labeled "Opening Near You" on the homepage, and its store page still says "Coming Soon." In July, WhatNow placed it on the first floor between Fabletics and Garage, across from Pandora and POP MART.
AUNTEA JENNY, a freshly brewed tea brand, appears on the homepage as "Headed Your Way." The brand's own store locator lists the Del Amo address as Unit 76. Because the company already has other California locations, this one adds a neighborhood tea stop rather than another first.
Thanksgiving, Black Friday and extended December hours are not on the mall's hours page yet. The posted schedule only runs through late October. Until it updates, plan Donguri Republic visits around regular hours, which VIZ lists as 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
At California Collective, we track how Torrance changes day to day, from a new tea counter to which Del Amo stores leave on New Year's Eve. If you want to know how everyday spots like these shape a block or a commute, book a curated neighborhood consultation and we'll walk you through it.