LIFESTYLE

Royal Pop Launch Forces Store Closures Across U.S.

PUBLISHED May 16, 2026, 4:54 AM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 5

Center 100%

Sources: 5

United States. Hundreds of shoppers gathered and surged at Swatch retail locations across multiple cities on Friday and Saturday as the Swatch and Audemars Piguet 'Royal Pop' pocket watch collection released in stores; lines formed in Los Angeles, New York (SoHo), Miami, Orlando and at major malls including King of Prussia and Somerset. As a result, several Swatch stores closed for the day, malls delayed openings, law enforcement intervened and three arrests were reported in Troy, Michigan; Los Angeles police limited a Topanga mall line from roughly 300 to 200. Swatch posted statements saying the collection will be available for months and sales may be paused to address safety.

By Neha R. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Prior Tuesday: Swatch and Audemars Piguet announce Royal Pop collection, in-store only.
Friday night: Hundreds gather and camp outside malls (e.g., Canoga Park) ahead of Saturday release.
Early Saturday: Large crowds at multiple locations prompt mall delays and store closures.
Saturday morning: Troy police arrest three people; Los Angeles limits lines from about 300 to 200.
Post-release: Swatch issues statements the collection will be available for months; high resale listings appear.

News Intelligence

The Royal Pop launch shows how high-demand items can disrupt daily routines. If you live near these malls, you might have faced traffic or crowd issues. Check local news before heading to crowded areas, especially on big release days.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 5
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 5

Who Benefited

Resellers, secondary marketplaces, and some attendees who obtained limited Royal Pop pocket watches benefited from scarcity-driven resale opportunities and the product’s strong publicity.

Who Impacted

Shoppers, store employees, mall operations, and local communities suffered disruptions, safety concerns, temporary store closures and law-enforcement interventions during the launch events.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 5
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 5
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

Resellers, secondary marketplaces, and some attendees who obtained limited Royal Pop pocket watches benefited from scarcity-driven resale opportunities and the product’s strong publicity.

Who Impacted

Shoppers, store employees, mall operations, and local communities suffered disruptions, safety concerns, temporary store closures and law-enforcement interventions during the launch events.