If you see a long line of people waiting near a big pink truck in La Encantada shopping center on Saturday, hereโs why.
Itโs for Hello Kitty!
The Hello Kitty Cafe โ yes, thatโs a real thing โ has its own touring food truck. And itโs making a stop in Tucson.
Nowโs your chance to snag the most adorable macarons, cookies, and confetti popcorn. Even the water bottles are shaped like Hello Kittyโs iconic hair bow.
Beyond the snacks, Hello Kitty enthusiasts can also pick up an array of exclusive merchandise.
The Hello Kitty Cafe truck made its debut at Hello Kitty Con โ yes, thatโs also a real thing โ in 2014. What started as a creative way to bring sweets to Southern California has since erupted into a full-blown nationwide tour.
โItโs extremely Instagram-able and millennial pink,โ said co-owner Urania Chien, adding that people at Hello Kitty Con initially thought the truck was just a photo prop, before realizing that the truck was filled with themed pastries.
โIโve been a Hello Kitty fan since I was really young,โ Chien says. โI always look forward to anything Hello Kitty and I just really wanted to do it.โ
And of all things Hello Kitty, why did she choose food? โFood is one thing that connects all generations. Itโs food that touches a lot of people and brings them together,โ she says.
And while there are other versions of Hello Kitty food trucks around the globe, Chienโs is the first in the U.S. And she now has trucks that visit cities all around the nation, including the Old Pueblo from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. this Saturday at La Encantada, 2905 E. Skyline Drive.
โWe didnโt know it would be a nationwide thing, but since Hello Kitty is such an icon, people were coming from all over for Hello Kitty Con,โ Chien says, adding that they started getting feedback through social media from people requesting that the truck visit other cities.
Chien says her favorite part of the truck is the interaction with other Hello Kitty fans.
โItโs fun being around other fans, and itโs the memories weโre creating for families,โ she says.
And if youโre longing for more Hello Kitty love, the truck is also visiting the Phoenix area next week. There are also brick-and-mortar Hello Kitty Cafes in California that offer a larger selection of items โ one even has a Hello Kitty-themed cocktail bar.
