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.

You want to know when you’ve truly “made it” in this world?  You’ll know when Funko makes a vinyl figure of you!

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. Apparently, it’s been headquartered in Snohomish County since it was founded in 1998!

Where is the 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 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 opps.

Think of it as a pop culture 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.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

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 Malificent 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, tauntan, 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 the 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 a 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 American 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?

WETMORE FOREST

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.

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.

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 closed on Mondays. So Sundays or Tuesday-Friday 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!

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 at some places.

I’m glad to report that BOTH the Men and Women restrooms have changing tables.

7. MAKE A DAY OF IT

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, check out the Imagine Children’s Museum. It’s seriously one of the coolest local children’s museums.

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Local Mom’s Guide to Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo
Bring the Kids to Brunch at Can Can in Pike Place Market