Squishies News

New Japanese-themed shop in Lewisville has pandemic fetish Squishmallows

Squishies: the thing you never knew you needed.

Kawaii Otaku Plus

A new store specializing in plush squishy toys and all manner of adorable Japanese-pop culture collectibles is opening at the increasingly buzzy Music City Mall in Lewisville.

Called Kawaii Otaku Plus, it's an independently owned shop, set to open on August 9, with a big collection of "squishies," the soft pillow-like stuffed toys which have been dubbed "the product you never knew you needed."

Kawaii is from Adidoreydi "Adi" Figueroa, a former vet tech with an entrepreneurial streak, and avid fan of Japanese pop culture.

She began by selling the card games, plush toys, manga, and collectible anime figures she loves at conventions and special markets. The store represents her next step — a place where like-minded fans can find items at a reasonable and predictable price, along with Figueroa's knowledgeable service.

"A few years ago, I went to a convention looking for a special figure," she says. "But due to the fact that I'm a woman and younger, I felt like I was getting brushed aside by vendors. I became determined to open a no-judgment kind of store that would take the customer seriously, regardless of who they are."

I want to be there for everyone who's looking for this kind of stuff," she says. "There are people trying to sell fake things, and we try to educate public what to look for and how to go about avoiding being taken advantage of."

Located at 2401 S. Stemmons Fwy., her store will sell a wide range of merchandise, from apparel to stickers to Pikachu keychains to posters to toys, including action figures, statues, and collectibles from comics and anime books.

Plush toys have become a big trend, especially during the pandemic, with people sending them to each other as a gesture of comfort. The pacer in the field is Squishmallows, a company founded in 2017 that first introduced ultra-squeezable pastel-tinted plush figures which have grown into an international phenomenon.

Kawaii carries Squishmallow, along with Squishable, Bellzi, Amuse, and Pokemon Center.

"Plushes are for everyone, for all ages," Figueroa says. "At the conventions I go to, you see people of all types — I've seen people who've competed in body building competitions buy them. There are small companies like Squishable and Warmies making them. With everything going on in the world, having them as a hobby gives some people a more safe feeling."

As for the name, she says that "Kawaii" translates into "cute," and Otaku means a nerd or a geek.

"So we're 'cute nerd and more'," she says.

RIP Mark

Colorful Dallas musician and DJ Mark Ridlen passes away at 65

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Mark Ridlen RIP

A bright and colorful light in Dallas' music scene went out: Mark Ridlen, DJ and musician, passed away on November 17, following a bout with cancer; he was 65.

From his appearance in Ron Howard’s 1978 directorial debut, Cotton Candy, to his groups Quad Pi, Lithium X-mas, and a plethora of side projects with scores of DFW musicians, to his full-time job as a professional DJ under the moniker "DJ Mr. Rid," Ridlen had been a steady staple on the local creative scene.

He surfed pretty much every musical wave: from Dallas' epochal dance music scene in the early 80s, to punk rock to his role as one of Dallas' top DJs — the guy you called when you wanted your event to be cool and fun.

Ridlen had been quietly battling kidney and lung cancer for the past three years. Over the summer, he had his second kidney removed, which meant he was on dialysis treatment a couple times a week.

He remained upbeat, but according to friends of the family, two more tumors were recently found in his brain. His family and friends decided to forego further treatment and were by his side when he died.

He remained in demand until his passing. In May, he DJed a party at the Kessler Theater, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Starck Club, the legendary '80s dance music club designed by Philippe Starck, which had a huge influence on Dallas, and which Ridlen was part of.

He was invited to DJ at the Starck Club when it opened in 1984 and remained in that role until the club closed in 1989.

Reid mark ridlen Mark Ridlen (right) with close friend Reid RobiinsonFacebook

From there, he migrated to Expo Park, the underground neighborhood across from Fair Park where art and music ruled. His stints at XPO Lounge, Double Wide, and other neighborhood venues made him a staple in the community.

At the same time, he was a member of Lithium Xmas, a psychedelic art-rock band which he formed with acclaimed musicians Chris Merlick and Greg Synodis.

He was also a pop culture savant with a comprehensive knowledge of music, who balanced a low-key charm with a vibrant sense of style, whether it was a vivid pop-art tunic or a flashy sequinned jacket, he did it all with originality and panache.

In late August, a large circle of musicians and friends rallied to participate in a benefit for Ridlen, to help pay for his medical costs — a sweet indication of the high regard in which he was held.

“I do want people to know that I am not being slowed down by cancer,” Ridlen said at the time. “I'm ready to continue working. I have more-or-less a clean bill of health for the moment, and hopefully that doesn't change.”

Survivors include his mother Nancy and his brother David. A memorial service is in the works with details still to be announced.

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