Dunny fans at ROBOTlove. Photos by Jeff Wheeler.
In the Twin Cities, ROBOTlove has long been the center of the vinyl-toy geek universe. Dunny parties? This is your spot. Tokidoki? It's all here. Hello Kitty? Bah, look elsewhere – that's too mainstream for this funky design shop.
Now comes news that the LynLake store is on the move. In June, owner Kristoffer Knutson will relocate ROBOTlove to northeast Minneapolis. Maybe even bigger news: He'll be partnering with the creative minds behind interactive entertainment studio PUNY and forward-thinking art gallery Pink Hobo. The space is located at the corner of East Hennepin and Central Avenue, with the gallery in the front and the studio in the back. ROBOTlove will share the gallery space and run it "as one big unit."
Knutson said ROBOTlove had a tough 2009 at its current location next to the Soo Visual Arts Center. "It's kind of time for the shop to grow into something else," he said.
Knutson, a former commercial producer, was also hired as PUNY's managing director. PUNY's client list includes "Yo Gabba Gabba." Read about PUNY's involvement in Gabba's TV program and live show here.
ROBOTlove will have a grand opening in mid-June to go along with the next Dunny release. Knutson said the East Hennepin area is a burgeoning retail district with clothing boutiques (Parc, Belle Reve) and other design shops (I Like You).
"I think it's a perfect fit for myself and the shop," Knutson said. "Everything came together in a kismet kind of way."
ROBOTlove's current info: 2648 Lyndale Av. S. Mpls. 612-871-9393. www.robotlove.biz
