📼 Mission Log: ZZZ Pop-Up NYC: Another Day in the City

Finally made it to the Zenless Zone Zero Pop-Up in New York City.

The moment HoYoverse announced it, I knew I wanted to go. I love the world of Zenless Zone Zero, and honestly, I never need much of an excuse to visit NYC. To me, it’s one of the best cities for photography. Every street has a story, every corner feels alive, and no matter the hour, the city never really stops moving.

As the trip got closer, though, another memory kept resurfacing.

The Genshin Impact × Zenless Zone Zero Pop-Up in Boston (December 2024).

That event wasn’t just about merchandise; it was about the people. The excitement, the laughter, the staff who genuinely loved the IP, the incredible cosplayers, and the random conversations that turned strangers into friends. Looking back, it’s still one of my favorite convention memories.

So naturally… I walked into NYC carrying those same expectations.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it during opening week. I’d already heard stories about the massive lines and how several popular items had sold out. Even then, I hoped the atmosphere would capture the same energy Boston had.

Before the Hollow Opened…

We reached Manhattan at around 5:30 in the morning, far earlier than the shop would open.

Instead of waiting around, my friend and I treated the city like our own little exploration commission.

We hopped on the Staten Island Ferry, crossed the harbor as the city slowly woke up, then wandered across both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge, eventually making our way through a bit of Chinatown.

Somewhere along the route we found a café serving an incredible cold brew.

Exactly the kind of buff we needed before the day’s mission.

Queueing Up

Around 10:00 AM, we lined up outside the store.

To our surprise, we were the first people there... well… almost.

Another fan was already waiting, dressed as Shepherd from the game. Unfortunately, most passersby kept guessing he was either the Joker or the Riddler because of the purple shirt and green tie.

It became a running joke while we waited.

Inside the Store

When the doors finally opened at 11:00 AM, I was pleasantly surprised.

Despite being a week into the event, there was still a healthy selection of merchandise:

• FES merchandise
• Character goods
• Event-exclusive badges and tickets
• Blind boxes
• Plushies and pillows
• And plenty more.

I’ll admit…

There were plenty of moments where I almost convinced myself to buy far more than I needed.

But I had gone there more for the experience than the shopping.

The only major purchase I made was acting as a proxy for one of my friends who couldn’t attend. I picked up around $220 worth of merchandise for him, and honestly, seeing how happy he’d be made that purchase feel even more worthwhile. (His merch haul is attached below.)

The Best Loot Wasn’t on the Shelves

After shopping, I simply hung around.

I played the Xbox demo for a while, listened to the soundtrack through my headphones, and relaxed outside.

One thing worth mentioning is that the venue itself was fantastic. There were plenty of places nearby to sit, explore, grab food, or simply take a break before coming back.

Then, a group of cosplayers arrived. And suddenly…

The vibe changed.

They were cheerful, energetic, and exactly the kind of people you’d hope to meet at a ZZZ event.

What caught my attention most wasn’t even the cosplay... it was one of the photographers carrying a Tape camera.

Since I’ve recently fallen in love with film photography, we immediately started geeking out over cameras. I even showed him how I’d repaired my DSLR, and before long we were swapping photography stories instead of just taking pictures.

As for the cosplays themselves, four really stood out to me:

• Koleda
• Grace
• Seth
• Jane Doe

They absolutely nailed the characters.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I’d give the NYC pop-up a 6.8/10. (•‿•)

The merchandise selection was genuinely solid, and the location couldn’t have been much better.

What held it back for me... was the atmosphere. Maybe Boston simply set the bar too high.

The Boston staff felt incredibly passionate about the IP. Many of them cosplayed throughout the event, talked with visitors, joked around, and made everyone feel welcome.

In NYC, the experience felt… more transactional. Nothing was bad.

It just never reached that same level of warmth.

Since we only had a single day in the city, we couldn’t extend the trip like we’d originally planned. That’s probably my biggest regret because I missed the chance to meet a few friends.

Still… Maybe things worked out the way they were supposed to.

Earlier I mentioned that something felt off about the atmosphere.

For a while, I honestly felt like I didn’t quite belong there (My presence seemed unwelcome) (>_<). So I put on my headphones, turned up the soundtrack, and simply enjoyed the city at my own pace.

Sometimes that’s enough. Not every event becomes your favorite memory. Some simply become another chapter in the story.

And honestly?

I’d happily queue up again for the next one. Until then…