The Funko headquarters is in Everett, WA, and it is a fun thing to do near Seattle with kids who love Disney, Star Wars, Stranger Things, Marvel, DC Comics, and more!
This Funko HQ post was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
As someone born and raised in the Seattle area, I love to highlight things that make our state unique.
When I heard that the Funko Headquarters in Everett was open to the public a few years ago, I grabbed my family and we headed up to this immersive store.
We’ve been back many times since then and we’ve taken out-of-town guests there to find cool treasures. Plus, it’s one of my favorite selfie spots!
Keep scrolling to see whether or not it’s something your family might geek out about!
What is Funko?
Funko is a pop culture brand that designs highly collectible products like vinyl figures, action toys, plushies, clothing, housewares, and accessories.
Their products appeal to a diverse audience. You’ve probably seen their items on display in office cubicles, as well as kids’ rooms.
They feature characters from Star Wars, Disney films, Marvel & DC Comics, cult classic movies, and more! The list is endless as they are constantly launching new products.
Do you want to know when you’ve truly “made it” in this world? You’ll know when Funko makes a vinyl figure of you!
The History of Funko Headquarters: How a Small Toy Company Became a Pop Culture Phenomenon
Funko was founded in 1998 by Mike Becker in Snohomish, Washington. Initially, the company focused on creating nostalgic bobbleheads of pop culture icons from the 1960s and 1970s.
In 2005, Becker sold the company to Brian Mariotti, who expanded Funko’s product line to include vinyl figures, action figures, plush toys, and other pop culture collectibles.
Mariotti also shifted the company’s focus from classic characters to contemporary pop culture franchises such as Star Wars, Marvel, and DC Comics.
Funko gained widespread popularity in the early 2010s with the introduction of their Pop! Vinyl line of figures. These figures feature a distinctive style with oversized heads and eyes, and they quickly became a hot collector’s item among fans of popular culture.
Today, Funko has licenses to create merchandise for hundreds of franchises, including movies, TV shows, video games, and sports teams.
In 2017, Funko went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange, with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $125 million.
The company’s headquarters are now located in Everett, Washington, and they continue to produce a wide variety of pop culture collectibles that are beloved by fans all over the world.
Funko Headquarters
Did you know that Funko is headquartered in Everett, Washington just about 30 minutes north of Seattle? I had no idea until I started seeing all the hype for their new headquarters several years ago.
As I mentioned above, it’s been headquartered in Snohomish County since it was founded in 1998!
Where is Funko HQ?
The Funko HQ is at 2802 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.
FROM SEATTLE:
- Take 1-5 North to exit 192 (Broadway)
- Continue onto Broadway Ave
- Turn left on Hewitt Ave
- Turn right on Wetmore Ave
FROM VANCOUVER, BC:
- Take 1-5 South to exit 194 (Everett Ave)
- Turn right on Everett Ave
- Turn left on Wetmore Ave
There is a parking garage across the street and limited street parking.
Is the Funko Headquarters Worth the Trek to Everett?
For SURE! Whether your family is an avid Funko collector or you simply are a fan of pop culture, the Funko Everett HQ is a place to experience this cultural phenomenon.
They have all the Funko collectibles you can dream of plus you can create your own custom Funko. Even if you don’t think you’ll buy anything, it’s worth looking around at all the cool photo ops.
Think of it as a Funko pop museum with an amazing gift shop!
The goal of the newly relocated Funko HQ is to get consumers to get offline and experience life in person. They redesigned a historic 90,000-square-foot building in downtown Everett in 2017.
The entire first floor was transformed into a 17,000-square-foot flagship store.
It’s a place where fans can connect in person and attend special events.
What Types of Products Does Funko Sell?
Funko sells a wide variety of pop culture-related merchandise, including:
Pop! Vinyl Figures
These are the company’s most popular product, featuring stylized figures of popular characters from movies, TV shows, video games, and more.
Dorbz
These are smaller vinyl figures with a rounded, chibi-style design.
Action Figures
Funko produces traditional action figures based on popular characters, often with highly detailed sculpting and articulation.
Plush Toys
Funko produces a variety of plush toys featuring characters from movies, TV shows, and video games.
Mystery Minis
These are blind-boxed figures that come in a variety of different themes, including Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, and more.
Funko Pops! Pez
Funko produces collectible Pez dispensers featuring popular characters from movies, TV shows, and video games.
Loungefly Products
Funko’s sister brand produces backpacks, purses, wallets, and other accessories featuring pop culture designs.
Funko Games
Funko produces board games based on popular franchises, including Disney, Harry Potter, and Rick and Morty.
Apparel
Funko produces T-shirts, hats, socks, and other clothing featuring pop culture designs.
Houseware
Funko produces a variety of homeware products, including mugs, salt and pepper shakers, and other kitchen accessories featuring pop culture designs.
Here’s What You’ll Find Inside this Funko Museum and Store:
FUNKO POP DISNEY
Of course, I have to start out with Disney. They have a whole Disney castle that features characters from an array of Disney movies including Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, and The Princess Frog.
And on the backside of the castle, Disney villain Maleficent peers over shoppers from above. Guests can walk on the castle’s drawbridge or walk around and notice all the Disney details.
The whole area near the castle is pretty incredible. I’d suggest taking your time when walking around. I did it quickly but my husband noticed a lot more than I did.
Plus, they have some really fun Disney items that would be great for a trip to Disneyland or Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii.
FUNKO POP STAR WARS
While I was in awe of the Disney stuff, my preschooler made a beeline for the Star Wars area. It’s easy to see why.
For one thing, the entire area is lit up in white, so it kind of feels like you are being transported somewhere outside of Everett, WA. I think it’s supposed to be the ice planet Hoth.
We are in the process of transitioning my son’s room into a Star Wars theme. Part of the reason we drove up to the Funko Headquarters was to find a special Star Wars item to decorate his room.
It was pretty cool that my 4-year-old could reach just about everything. He had fun looking at all the different Star Wars Pop Vinyl collectibles.
Insider Tip: The adult t-shirts run a little small and there are no kid sizes available.
The Funko Pop Star Wars area has so many photo ops, like Darth Vader, a wampa, tauntaun, stormtroopers, and a wookie.
But, my preschooler was much more interested in searching for the perfect Star Wars item to buy. So, I snapped a few and then we shopped together.
And for those who are wondering: After going back to the Funko Pop Star Wars area over and over again, my son decided to get a little surprise bag with a mystery Star Wars character inside.
It wasn’t what we set out to buy, but he was pretty stoked to get it!
GOTHAM CITY WITH FUNKO DC COMICS
Want to visit Gotham City and enter the world of Batman and The Joker? Apparently, you can also hear The Joker laugh if you listen closely. We were there on a busy Saturday, so I couldn’t hear much.
Insider Tip: This area does have some items displayed at kid level that might scare children.
And keep your eyes out for nearly life-sized Wonder Woman, Bat Girl, and Harley Quinn. Plus you can shop for items featuring lots of other DC superheroes and villains.
Ok, where else can you sit in the 1960’s style Batmobile in a Bat Cave? This is the first opportunity I’ve had and it was pretty amazing! You can also walk around the Bat Cave and see all the different areas.
Plus, spot Robin making his entrance!
Insider Tip: Have someone take photos of you in the Batmobile from the above angle and then have them walk to their right to get a completely different view of the Bat Cave. You’re welcome 🙂
FUNKO MARVEL
If you want to feel like you are on the streets of New York City, welcome to the Funko Marvel exhibit area! It’s set up to feel like you are walking around an NYC neighborhood, complete with sidewalks and fire hydrants.
Yes, below is the Hulk crashing through a building.
This Funko Marvel area was my favorite! I think this would be a cool place for someone to really take a moment and enter the Marvel universe.
On a less crowded day, I would have happily sat on the sidewalk and just soaked it all in.
And yep, that’s the food truck from Deadpool. For fans of Deadpool, this may be your only opportunity to see an exhibit area dedicated to him.
And if you look closely, you can even see pigeon poop under the billboard. This detail will be hilarious to your kids!
And a Marvel exhibit wouldn’t be complete without Ironman. To the left of this is a comic book stand where Stan Lee himself (well, a Funko replica) is selling comics!
And Captain America guards the city from on top of the comic book stand. And don’t forget to look up or Thor might get you with his hammer!
HARRY POTTER FUNKO
Want to travel to a mini version of Hogsmeade? Hagrid hangs out near the gate to enter the Harry Potter section of the Funko headquarters.
The lighting is a bit dimmer, which adds to the ambiance. It reminded me a bit of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Hollywood.
This was my second favorite area to explore. I admit I was borderline star-struck when I saw Harry, Hermoine, and Ron.
My husband and I binge-watched all the Harry Potter movies before our big Universal Studios trip a few months ago. It was the first time I’d seen them and Hogsmeade sucked me in!
This is yet another area to pay attention to all the details. I took a couple of laps before my kids were ready to move on.
But, if you have kids who have either read the books or seen the movies, they will probably geek out. It’s the closest you’ll come to experiencing Hogsmeade and the world of Harry Potter in Washington State.
So, if you really wanted to do something amazing this summer, read the Harry Potter series to your kids every night. Or, have them read it to you. Then, bring them here to pick out a special Harry Potter collectible.
Doesn’t that sound like a fun summer reading program for families?
ANIME CORNER
If you are an anime fan, you’ll definitely want to check this area out! It has all types of Funko merchandise representing lots of movies, TV shows, and comics.
There’s even a giant Godzilla in the back that makes for fun selfies!
WETMORE FOREST
By now, you might be asking yourself “Are there any exclusive Funko Pop! figures that are only available at the Funko headquarters in Everett?” The answer is YES!
Now, if you have paid close attention to the address of the new Funko HQ, you’d remember it’s located on Wetmore Avenue in downtown Everett.
While it’s not really a forest these days, this product line reminds us that the area used to be full of trees. Everett was actually a logging town when it was first settled.
These imaginary friends are named for the street in Everett, WA where the Funko HQ currently stands. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung
Wetmore Forest is an original line designed by Funko. They even created a desktop game featuring these lovable creatures.
It’s quite a large section filled with plush creatures, vinyl figures, clothing, and more exclusives.
There’s a sign in this area that explains that Wetmore Forest is a world long ago where a tribe of colorful creatures lived and played in the Pacific Northwest.
They had their own village of homes built into stumps and logs and the adventures were limitless.
CUSTOM FUNKO POP AT POP! FACTORY
Ok, if you STILL aren’t convinced that you need to visit the Funko HQ in Everett, WA, here’s what will seal the deal. You can create your own custom Funko Pop at the Pop! Factory.
Yes, you can make one to represent yourself or a loved one. Or you can let your imagination run wild!
7 Tips for Visiting the Funko Headquarters
1. BEST DAYS TO VISIT
I overheard an employee say that Saturdays are their busiest days because that’s when families take a trip to visit their store.
The store is open every day 11 am-6 pm. So weekdays are the best days to visit.
2. DON’T TAKE A LARGE BAG
There are lockers available as soon as you enter the store. If you don’t want to deal with that, leave your big purse or backpack at home. Otherwise, you’ll need to use the locker.
3. DO BRING YOUR CAMERA
There are SO many fun photo ops! I took photos on both my cell and my nicer camera and I’m really glad I had my big camera with me. I’d suggest having both because it’s such a unique place!
I also brought my new Osmo Pocket to take videos.
4. DON’T MISS THE EXTERIOR
There’s a cool pedestrian overpass that connects the building to the parking garage. You’ll see giant Funko characters on this and outside the building.
Plus, they have some window displays. Make sure to give yourself a few minutes to soak it all in.
I mean, where else are you going to see a humongous Spiderman above the streets in Everett or anywhere else?!?
5. ONE ADULT TO ONE KID
The Funko HQ can be a bit overwhelming. There’s so much to see that it can be hard to keep track of more than one kid. So, if you are going with younger kids, I’d suggest one adult to one child.
My 4-year-old just wanted to explore the Star Wars area and my toddler wanted to explore the entire store as quickly as possible! It was nice that my husband and I were able to divide and conquer!
6. CHANGING TABLES
I always check the restrooms to see if they are baby-friendly. My husband often changes our toddler while I’m taking photos and he’s had to get creative in some places.
I’m glad to report that BOTH the Men and Women’s restrooms have changing tables.
7. MAKE A DAY OF THE FUNKO POP HQ
You may get inspired by all the superhero stuff to get into comic books. That’s why it’s cool that there’s a comic book store conveniently located across the street. And there’s a bakery right next door.
And if you are still looking for kid-friendly things to do in Everett besides the Funko HQ store, check out the Imagine Children’s Museum. It’s seriously one of the coolest local children’s museums.
Visiting the Funko Pop Headquarters FAQs
The point of Funko is to offer fans of various movies, TV shows, video games, and other pop culture phenomena the opportunity to own a physical representation of their favorite characters.
Funko’s products are highly collectible and often feature a distinctive “cute” or “chibi” style that has become very popular with fans. The company produces figurines featuring a wide range of characters, from superheroes and villains to characters from classic films and TV shows, and even famous musicians and athletes.
Some Funko Pop figures can be worth money, especially if they are rare or have become collector’s items. However, not all Funko Pop figures are worth a significant amount of money, and the value of a particular figure can vary depending on a number of factors.
Some factors that can affect the value of a Funko Pop figure include its rarity, the condition it is in, whether or not it is a limited edition, and whether or not it is part of a popular series or collection.
Some of the rarest and most sought-after Funko Pops that collectors may be interested in:
Glow-in-the-Dark Alex DeLarge – Clockwork Orange
Metallic Genie – Aladdin
Metallic Boo – Monsters Inc.
Planet Arlia Vegeta – Dragon Ball Z
Freddy Funko Metallic Blue and Red (tie)
Dumbo Clown – Dumbo
Headless Ned Stark – Game of Thrones
Metallic Pink Harley Quinn – Batman
Metallic Darth Maul – Star Wars
Glow-in-the-Dark White Ranger – Power Rangers
It is important to note that the rarity of Funko Pops can vary and is subject to change. The value of Funko Pops is also influenced by many factors such as condition, age, and demand.
The first Funko Pop was released in 2011 and it was a figurine of the character “Ad Icon” called Big Boy, which is the mascot for the restaurant chain Bob’s Big Boy. The Big Boy Funko Pop was designed by Funko’s co-founder, Mike Becker, and it was intended to be a fun and nostalgic collectible for fans of pop culture and advertising.
Pre-pandemic, there were lots of cool events at the Funko headquarters. These are slowly coming back and you’ll want to check out their official website or social channels to see what’s coming up next.
Visiting the Funko Headquarters Wrap Up
I hope this post has encouraged you to drive to Everett to check out all the Funko products and photo opportunities! No matter what franchise you’re interested in, chances are they have something special for you!
Mike
Sunday 28th of July 2019
I was wondering what it cost? And can you make your own Pop now? I would be driving from Vancouver so I was wondering how much time can you actually spend in there? My daughter and I are big funko fans. Thank you
marciecheung
Tuesday 30th of July 2019
It's free to visit! It's a store. Yes, you can make your own Pop. If you are big Funko fans, you might plan on 2 full hours to explore and look at everything. There are a lot of things packed into the store.
Cathy
Friday 19th of July 2019
Traveling in Seattle with kids this summer. Thanks for sharing this cool place. I'm planning a day trip, how long you would suggest to stay here? thanks
marciecheung
Friday 19th of July 2019
You'll probably want at least an hour. It kind of depends on how passionate you are and if your kids are into it. I have friends that spend 2-3 hours there just looking at everything.
Leah
Tuesday 9th of July 2019
This sounds like a lot of fun! I hadn’t heard of this before, but it looks like a great place to take kids!
marciecheung
Tuesday 9th of July 2019
It's such a fascinating place! My kids already have asked to go back!
Jen Bromer
Tuesday 9th of July 2019
So interesting! I had absolutely never heard of this before...and I have 3 boys ages 8, 10, and 12! :)
marciecheung
Tuesday 9th of July 2019
It's an awesome stop on the drive from Seattle to Vancouver, BC! Road trip up here!
Jody Robbins
Tuesday 9th of July 2019
This looks like a super fun thing to do with my daughter. Do you think it would good for teens to experience, too?
marciecheung
Tuesday 9th of July 2019
Oh for sure! I always see a LOT of teens and college students there.