Lisa Frank Factory

If you were alive in the ’80s or ’90s, you've likely encountered a Lisa Frank product. The brand won the hearts of many children and tweens with its adorable, sparkly products. Schools supplies such as folders and pencils depicting rainbow dolphins and colorful unicorns became a symbol of coolness. 

Lisa Frank Incorporated was founded in 1979 and named after its 24-year-old founder. Stickers were the first product with a popular line of school supplies following in 1987. 

Its popularity rose, and in 1996 this 320,000-square-foot factory opened in Tucson, Arizona and paid tribute to the company's line of cutesy, rainbow products. It even features a rainbow loading dock and pink glass entry. There are also more subtle details such as hearts and stars lining the fence. The cheerful features now fade in the desert sun, surrounded by dull brown tumbleweeds. 

The factory once offered tours, but now the interior is mostly empty. Behind the pink glass, a giant statue of the brand’s iconic yellow lab puppy guards the lobby. Journey deeper, and you’ll encounter a giant panda in overalls with a can of rainbow paint and a brush poised and ready to make the world brighter. 

Sales declined as the original fans grew up, and rumors of poorly treated employees showed that maybe it wasn’t all technicolor puppies and rainbows. In 2013, the factory was officially shut down.

The brand saw a resurgence in popularity in 2021, however, when Lisa Frank’s son took over as Director of Business Development and began managing the brand’s Instagram. With nostalgia capitalism resurrecting demand for the brand, they started selling products online, and even gave the outside of the factory a fresh paint job.

In 2024, Amazon Prime Video released a four-part documentary series called Glitter and Greed: the Lisa Frank Story addressing allegations of a grueling work environment against the brand. In the show, the company is referred to as a “rainbow gulag.”

Today, the inside of the factory still sits empty, and seems to be available to lease.