Author: Ariel Landrum
Summer in Los Angeles: beach days, outdoor movies, BBQs, and an increase in pop-up culture. From themed restaurants to museums, ironically, it seems that these time-sensitive experiences are here to stay. One of the most anticipated for June 2017 is the Tokidoki ice cream pop-up at Kiddos Creamery. Hot days are meant for ice cream, but La La Land needs their sweet treat with flair.
Tokidoki is a Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand that was created in 2005. Italian artist Simone Legno and his business partners Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold started by developing creative patterns with anime-style characters. These characters have become iconic, with names, stories, and worlds attached to them. Now fans purchase apparel, accessories, and artwork depicting a beloved Unicorno or Cactus Friend.
Collaborations are a large part of the Tokidoki credo, and desserts are ever present in their designs, so creating an ice cream pop-up for these dog days was a perfect fit. Choosing Kiddos Creamery in Glendale, CA, was also a work of genius. As it has only been around since 2016, this brand-new artisan dessert shop has grown immensely with its cult following. Cousins Jon Shin and Jeffrey Im started their business with the help of their friends and family.
This dream team splits the work up with master-chef Shin creating a rotating flavor palate of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and frozen desserts, while Im coordinates the business. With Asian-inspired flavors like matcha and ice cream sandwiches made from Monika (rice flour) wafers, joining forces with Tokidoki was a must.
Each week Kiddos Creamery will introduce 8 different flavors of ice cream centered around a Tokidoki character. Individuals who purchase an ice cream are also given a limited edition pin depicting a celebrated character for the week. The grand opening of this month-long affair was June 3, 2017, so when Tokidoki announced they were doing a pop-up shop, devotees flocked to it from miles. One group drove upwards of two and a half hours. The line wrapped around the building and into an alley behind the neighboring restaurants – some eager followers found themselves waiting for a lofty four hours.
Aside from the attraction of themed ice cream and Tokidoki products, fans arrived early for a chance to be one of 50 that would win a swag bag. The opening day also included an extra limited edition pin, a hot item among the fans. The event coordinators made the wait enjoyable by interacting with the crowd. They live-streamed fans through social media, had hourly raffles, and promoted the Instagram contest that everyone can participate in throughout the month. They encouraged individuals to take their best selfies with the neon logo, which would give them a chance to win a $250 Tokidoki gift card.
This pop-up started with a delicious bang, with these two fun factions coming together. Being extremely successful right out of the gate will surely be a success for the entire month. Whether to collect exclusive pins, try heavenly creamery, or join the pop-up craze, visiting Kiddos Creamery as they partner with Tokidoki is a must.
Update September 30, 2021:
Kiddos Creamery officially closed down due to the effects of the global pandemic.
