Project location: South Coast Plaza · Costa Mesa, California · Project context: 2026 · Prepared by POPUP from the project archive in October 2026.
CHAGEE's South Coast Plaza opening gave shoppers something to do as well as see. A DIY keychain station, redemption experience and branded tumbler display connected participation with an on-site team guiding the visit.
How can a store-opening activation welcome busy guest traffic?
A store opening works harder when visitors can do more than look around. Simple, participatory moments give people a way to spend time with the brand and each other.
Make the opening an experience: draw shoppers into the teahouse, give them a hands-on moment and keep the journey welcoming even as traffic builds.
Give the opening a point of arrival
The new teahouse provided a strong physical setting. A branded display and clear guest journey connected the storefront to the opening-week activity inside.
Put something in guests' hands
A DIY keychain station and redemption experience invited visitors to participate. The branded tumbler display added a distinct physical focal point to the opening.
Make a busy opening feel personal
Brand ambassadors helped visitors navigate the stations, supported lines and kept the experience moving. That human layer made the activation feel welcoming as the new store filled with guests.
The planning lesson
Map how guests move between the opening activities before deciding staff positions. Ambassadors need a clear way to explain the stations and support lines. A participatory moment feels welcoming when the arrival and next step are easy to follow.
Who delivered the experience
For CHAGEE's South Coast Plaza opening, POPUP designed and fabricated the branded tumbler display and led staffing, guest flow and on-site delivery for the consumer activation.
Project questions
Where did the experience take place?
CHAGEE: South Coast Plaza · Costa Mesa, California.
What was the delivery scope?
Activation design & fabrication; Brand ambassador staffing; Guest flow & queue management; On-site production.
