Carlos H.
Google
My wallet walked in with me...and never made it out
I went to the Bandai Namco Cross Store in Industry City thinking, "I'll just browse."
That was my first mistake.
The moment you walk in, it's like your inner child grabs your adult credit card and says, "We ride at dawn." There are Gunpla kits staring at you, shelves of figures judging you, and an entire wall of gashapon machines whispering, "Just one more spin...what's the worst that could happen?" (Answer: you leave with 14 tiny plastic characters and no regrets.)
The place is super clean, well organized, and dangerously well-stocked. It's basically a mini Akihabara dropped into Brooklyn, except instead of jet lag, you just get financial regret and a bag full of anime merch you absolutely didn't plan to buy (but 100% needed).
Highlights:
* The gashapon area is basically a casino, but for anime fans. I blacked out and woke up holding capsules.
* Tons of official merch--Gundam, One Piece, PAC-MAN--if Bandai touched it, it's probably here
* Chill card game area where you can pretend you came to "hang out" and not spend money
Only "downside":
* It gets crowded, especially on weekends, which just means more witnesses when you say, "I'm not buying anything else" and immediately buy something else
Overall, if you're even slightly into anime, gaming, or collectibles, this place is a must. Just set a budget...then double it...then accept your fate.
I'll definitely be back--mostly because I'm pretty sure I left part of my paycheck there