The first permanent Pokémon store outside Asia is set to open in London “by 2029.” The retail space will welcome fans of all ages, offering merchandise, community areas, and “one-of-a-kind experiences.”
According to The Pokémon Company, the store’s launch will kick off a broader rollout of locations worldwide. The exact site for the London store has not yet been announced.
“We are always exploring new opportunities that help us create unique and memorable experiences for our fans,” said Gaku Susai, chief product and experience officer at The Pokémon Company International. “This new London store will give visitors the chance to step into the world of Pokémon, whether they’re discovering the brand for the first time or have been Trainers for years.
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“We hope it becomes a place where everyone can come together, feel like part of a community and enjoy the magic of Pokémon in a whole new way.”
A previous location opened in New York in 2001 but closed in 2005 to make way for Nintendo New York, a store carrying broader Nintendo-based merchandise. The London store has no name yet, and The Pokémon Company deliberately avoided calling it a Pokémon Center in its announcement.
The store’s opening forms part of a wider Pokémon expansion in the UK. The Pokémon European International Championships, hosted at London’s Excel Centre in recent years, features its own pop-up Pokémon Center that always sells out quickly.
In the world of Pokémon video games, Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves (Generation 10) are slated for a global simultaneous release on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.
Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images.
Kirk McKeand is a Contributor on IGN News. Find him on Twitter @MckKirk
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