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.
Fun Things To Do Near Seattle
6 Tips for Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Northwest Trek Review
Local Mom’s Guide to Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo
Bring the Kids to Brunch at Can Can in Pike Place Market
46 Comments
This looks like so much fun! My family will have to check it out next time we’re in the Seattle area! Looks worth the trip:)
It’s totally worth the trip!
The Harry Potter zone looks so fun! It looks like so much fun!
It’s pretty incredible!
This place looks so fun! My daughter would love the Frozen characters. I’ll have to check it out next time we’re in Seattle.
You really should! And then hit up Imagine Children’s Museum or the Seattle Premium Outlets 🙂
This is SO cool! I really want to plan a trip to Seattle and this would be so fun to add to the agenda.
If you make it to Seattle, email me! I have tons of suggestions!
This looks so cool! So many fun areas to enjoy! My girls would definitely love the Frozen area.
It’s so much more than just a store!
What a unique name for the place. Sure looks like a lot of fun though.
It’s definitely one of the coolest stores I’ve been to!
Wow!!! That looks like a ton of fun! How cool! I wish we were closer, I would love to take my kids!
It would make a fun stop on a PNW road trip!
I have to be honest, I’ve never heard of Funko! But it looks like a great day out, and plenty of things for the kids to do too. I especially like the Harry Potter and Star Wars collection; they’re so adorable!
You might not have heard the name Funko, but you have probably seen the figurines. They are EVERYWHERE.
Umm my 5 year old is OBSESSED with Funko! I had no idea that they were US based! Making a note for when we venture out west!
How have I never even heard of this? Funko sounds amazing, and it looks like it has something for everyone. What a great place to spend a day!
This looks like too much fun! My kids don’t really have any Funko yet (they’re too small) but I know they would love going through HQ anyway and checking out all those fun figures!
This is so cool. We live about 50 mins north of Everett and had no idea this existed! Thanks for the heads up! We’ll have to check it out when our daughter is older.
How super fun! My kids would love this for sure.
There’s seriously something for everyone!
This looks like a great place for children. All the creations of Funko do seem to have a bit of the funk-element in them. I can imagine my nephews and niece tearing up this place if they ever had the chance.
There are some pretty cool creations!
I’ve never had a chance to visit the USA, but if I had such an opportunity, and if I had my own kids, I’d love to take them to Seattle and the Funko Headquarters. 🙂
Seattle is a gorgeous place for a vacation! I hope you make it out here!
My daughter would go nuts! I really wish we had something like this near us. Maybe, if we ever get to Washingon. 🙂
It’s the only Funko retail store, I believe. Great excuse to visit the PNW 🙂
Wow! This place looks cool and super fun! I like all these characters and I absolutely love the way they have decorated the place in various beautiful sections. Funko makes you want to be a kid again. Thanks for sharing these lovely photographs. 🙂
It’s a seriously cool place!
How did I not know this place existed!! Looks like so much fun
It’s only been open a few months!
This was very interesting! I have never heard of this place and we are planning a trip to Seattle, so great timing! I think my little one would love all the Disney things and my husband would love the Starwars thing, so we might have to set some time aside to visit this place. Thanks for sharing!
Oh awesome! If you get a chance, stop by the Imagine Children Museum just a few blocks away. It pairs nicely with a trip to Funko!
It’s my first time to hear about this place but it looks so fun! I love all the area, especially the Disney one with Beauty and the Beast, Frozen and The Princess Frog. I think my siblings will enjoy visiting here 🙂
It’s just been open since late 2017. It’s a cool spot!
Isn’t it so much fun! When I visited the first time Hedwig’s Theme was playing as I walked into Hogsmeade. The staff member and I later joked that it was intentional.
Weekdays are definitely better. I’m impressed by how clear your photos are on a busy day.
I may have spent a lot of time waiting for people to get out of my shot 🙂 I’m planning on taking the boys during the week this summer so we can make a custom one!
Ah! That is some education for me. I did spot a shop here with an entire window filled with Funko figures. I was wondering what they were. Glad to know they’re Funko…
These are super cute. I might just splurge on some for myself. My daughter needs to be a bit older to appreciate this!
Getting to see them here, larger than lifesize would be fun thing to do.
Haha! Glad I could help! They are super popular collectibles here!
Omg these Funko characters are soo cute! This is a fun place for all ages. Did you bought some souvenirs?
We definitely bought some souvenirs and are looking forward to coming back! They are coming out with a vinyl figurine of Bao from the Pixar short!
I’ve never heard of Funko before, but I guess the fact that I’m not from the area will excuse me from not knowing about it. Nevertheless, it looks like an absolute paradise for the children or even for the adults (who are young at heart, hehe)!
Yes, while Funko is a global brand, their HQ is mostly only known by local folks!
My son will love this! Yes he is that kind of kid who will difficult to handle while visiting this place. Currently, he is hooked on to Avengers so Marvel area is sure to catch his attention. Noting this place as a must to visit with my son.
Oh the Marvel area is incredible! I hope you are able to visit!