80 Holiday 'GameStop Kids' Stores

GameStop is jumping into the holiday pop-up store game with the launch of GameStop Kids, which will focus on offerings for your favorite young gamer.

Call of Duty: Black Ops or Assassin's Creed might not be the most appropriate selection for your second grader, so GameStop Kids will focus on options like Lego and Star Wars. The first of 80 pop-up holiday stores opens today in the Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, Texas.
"From Angry Birds to Hello Kitty, GameStop Kids stores will feature an assortment of this season's most sought after video games and accessories, video game licensed products, popular toy brands and collectibles," the store said in a statement. That includes:

• Skylanders: GameStop exclusive Golden Dragonfire Cannon Battlepack, additional characters, throws, backpacks, carriers, and displays
• Angry Birds: Angry Birds plush with sound effects, splat balls, mash'ems launcher pack, backpack clips, mugs, and coming soon: Angry Birds Star Wars plush
• Lego: Lord of the Rings, Stars Wars, and Harry Potter build sets along with Marvel character build sets
• Star Wars: Two-foot plush talking Chewbacca, key chains, phone cases, banks, and more
• Minecraft: Minecreeper head, LEGO Minecraft Microworld, and foam pick axe

A full list of planned pop-up stores is available on the GameStop website. The company said these stores will open "in the coming days and weeks." There is also an online catalogue of the products GameStop Kids will have on offer.

"We are always striving to make the shopping experience better for holiday gift givers," Bob Puzon, GameStop's vice president of merchandising, said in a statement. "GameStop Kids takes that one step further by having the hottest brands and products that people of all ages can love."

Microsoft also has several holiday pop-up stores planned to show off its new operating system, Windows 8, and Surface tablet. One of the stores opened this week in New York's Times Square.