New York’s Gritty Charm: The WELOVENYC Pop-Up That Celebrates City’s Authentic Character

In a city that thrives on contradictions, a new pop-up has captured New York’s quintessential paradox: it’s gross, and New Yorkers love it that way. The WELOVENYC “Comeback Collection” has emerged as an unlikely hit, celebrating the city’s signature grime with a delightfully chaotic assortment of rat-themed merchandise and urban survival gear. Located in a tiny space at 101 Lafayette Street, this collaboration between numerous New York artists has drawn long lines of locals eager to embrace the authentic, unpolished character of their beloved city. “It’s more about what New York is really like. The funky stuff,” explains Tanya De Poli, a co-creator of the collection. “Rats are a part of that, so why not play that up?” In a city that has employed a “rat czar” and features rat-watching tours, this sentiment resonates with true New Yorkers who see the rodent presence as just another part of the authentic urban experience.

The pop-up’s star attraction has undoubtedly been the Ratbubu – a tattooed and pierced version of the popular Labubu toy dressed as a New York rat. These creepy but cute $55 plushies have become the hottest item in the collection, with the first 300 limited-edition toys selling out on opening night alone. The frenzy sent desperate fans returning the next morning or sliding into the creators’ DMs begging for one. “They went crazy,” De Poli recalled with amusement as fresh shipments arrived to meet demand. Regular Labubus – small, plush toy keychains of elf-like monsters with pointed ears, serrated grins, and fuzzy costumes – have already gained global popularity after being sported on designer bags by celebrities like Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Kim Kardashian, with some rare versions selling for as much as $10,000. The Ratbubu variation, while currently more affordable, captures New York’s distinctive personality with its street-smart appearance.

The collection extends well beyond just the popular plushies, offering an array of items that humorously reference New York’s less glamorous aspects. Shoppers can find trash-bag earbud covers for $25, “Legal Cocaine” coffee mugs at $35, and practical “S–t Shield” sneaker guards for $12 – the latter being particularly useful for navigating the city’s sometimes questionable sidewalks. Visitors to the pop-up are greeted by a back wall covered in real rat traps spray-painted with “We Heart NYC,” where some of the Ratbubus hang, creating a perfect photo opportunity that captures the ironic self-awareness of the collection. Pamela Barsky, known as the “Original New York Bag Lady,” contributes to the collection with her radical rodent bags featuring phrases like “Sometimes I think the rats run this city better than we do” and “Real New Yorkers don’t scream when they see a rat” – sentiments that resonate with locals who have made peace with their furry neighbors.

The opening night festivities included free, pre-designed “flash” tattoos by artist Chris Torres with any $50 purchase – and the team was stunned by how many people willingly waited to have a rat permanently inked on their skin. This commitment to the theme demonstrates just how strongly the concept resonates with New Yorkers who embrace the city’s imperfections as badges of honor. The pop-up continues to draw crowds with creative events, including rat-shaped latte art by Moonface accompanying the second drop of Ratbubus, though prospective buyers need to move quickly as only 100 will be available. The third and final Ratbubu release will be celebrated with a rat costume contest, encouraging fans to dress up like their new furry accessories – taking the city’s acceptance of its rat population to an entirely new level.

Rick McGuire, the founder and creator behind SubwayCreatures, partnered with the WELOVENYC team to curate the pop-up, which runs through November 1st. “I knew it would be both memorable and iconic. One of my favourite aspects of this is the New York creatives involved who came together to make this happen,” McGuire told Little Black Book. The collaboration brings together artists from across the city who share a common appreciation for New York’s unfiltered reality. This authentic representation stands in stark contrast to the sanitized, tourist-friendly image often projected in official city campaigns, instead celebrating the lived experience of actual residents – complete with all its challenges and idiosyncrasies.

“It’s the new and more honest New York,” proclaimed WELOVENYC co-creator Checha Agost Carreno, highlighting the authenticity that drives the project’s appeal. The pop-up deliberately targets locals rather than visitors seeking idealized souvenirs. “We didn’t want this collection to be for the tourists,” De Poli emphasized, reflecting the collection’s mission to celebrate the city as New Yorkers actually experience it – rats, garbage, and all. This honest portrayal resonates deeply with residents who appreciate the city’s complexities and contradictions. In embracing the grit alongside the glamour, the WELOVENYC collection captures something essential about New York’s character: its resilience, its humor, and its unapologetic authenticity. As lines continue to form outside the small storefront, it’s clear that for true New Yorkers, the city’s imperfections aren’t just tolerated – they’re celebrated as integral parts of the urban experience they proudly call home.