First Miami Claw Machine Arcade Opens at International Mall

Miami has gone Labubu crazy recently, with more stores stocking the popular plush monsters and some locals customizing their bounty with tattoos and tooth gems. Now, Miami is getting in on another Asian pop-culture trend with the arrival of the city's first claw machine arcade, Clawz Plushies Playground. The store opens at Miami International Mall on Saturday, August 2.

Nicknamed "clawcades," claw arcades have popped up across the country in recent years. After initially gaining popularity in countries like Japan and Taiwan, they made their way to West Coast cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle, and are now opening on the East Coast.

This specific style of claw machine — designed for a greater chance at winning — was created in Japan in the 1980s by the Sega video game company. They quickly became popular, eventually leading to clawcades becoming a signature feature of urban areas in Japan. Today, the prizes inside are officially licensed products from famous franchises like Sanrio and Pokémon. Machines are frequently curated and updated to keep them trendy.

Clawz founders Loredana Minici and Leonardo Kozlowski tell New Times they took inspiration from kawaii and Tim Burton aesthetics to create the characters and factory-themed storyline you'll encounter at Clawz.

"There's nothing else like this, and we've visited many claw arcades in different parts of the U.S.," says Minici.

The cofounders researched for three years to prepare to open their own store, traveling to China, the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea to get a feel for the trend's origins. They say it's still as popular as ever in Asia, even as it gains a foothold in the U.S.

"It's not only the claw arcade experience of playing and having fun," says Minici. "It's also the experience of being in this environment full of colors, and spending time here with family and friends. And it's very Instagrammable."

Clawz boasts 35 claw machines. Two of the machines drop ten claws at once — the only machines of their kind in the U.S. In order to play, you'll choose the amount you want to load and receive the corresponding number of tokens. Each machine varies between three to ten tokens per play.

All of the shop's plushies are officially licensed, including Hello Kitty, Squishmallows, Pokémon, Marvel, and original store collectible characters called the Z Gang. Guests can also trade in smaller plushies for larger ones. If you're unlucky with the claw machines, don't worry — the store offers a "clawarranty" to ensure every player gets a plushie.

"In our store, everybody wins," says Kozlowski.

Clawz Plushies Playground. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Miami International Mall, 1455 NW 107th Ave., Doral; 888-209-6096; simon.com.