Written By: Luis Vox
Living in Southern California these days means watching established local businesses team up with major international IPs for limited-time pop-up events. Honestly, we are not mad about it.
Last month, Lacey of the Dead and I checked out a Godzilla-themed pop-up at Thirsty Waters Premium Tea. The event ran throughout January, and while we found out about it pretty late in the game, we were lucky enough to squeeze in a visit before it stomped off for good.
Thirsty Waters went all in on the theme, offering Godzilla-inspired drinks, snacks, and some handmade merchandise on site. We each grabbed a drink. I went with the "Godzilla Blue Heat Ray Slushie", while Lacey chose the "King Ghidorah Gravity Beam Three Fruit Tea". Both drinks were served in clear can-style bottles featuring the kaiju of your choice, which made them just as fun to look at as they were to drink. We also picked up the Godzilla Cookie and the Chocolate Pocky Road. Everything tasted great, and the attention to detail really sold the experience.
The merch lineup was equally impressive. They had self-printed, officially licensed shirts, handmade concrete-style coasters that looked like they were pulled straight from a destroyed city block, an adorable Godzilla coin bank, and a selection of blind box figures for collectors.
The space itself was fully transformed. The walls were covered in fantastic Godzilla-inspired artwork, with a main mural showing a Japanese city skyline and Godzilla looming nearby. A TV played a faux news report detailing Godzilla’s attack on the city, while the surrounding walls featured striking poster art that tied everything together.
All in all, this pop-up ruled. It was creative, fun, and clearly made by people who love the franchise. We will absolutely be keeping an eye on Thirsty Waters to see what partnerships they unleash next.
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