Pokémon has announced that their physical retail presence will finally be expanding outside of Asia, with London, UK, set to get the first store in 2029. The company says this will be “the first of several permanent Pokémon stores,” but no further details about where those would open were given.
Gaku Susai, the Chief Produce and Experience Officer at The Pokémon Company International, shared a brief statement, “We are always exploring new opportunities that help us create unique and memorable experiences for our fans. 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. 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.”
Notably, the announcement doesn’t say these are Pokémon Center locations — fans will have to stay tuned to learn if these are going to be a similar to previous locations opened in Japan and other Asian countries or a brand new type of shopping experience.
The London store will be the first permanent retail location in the West since the closure of the Pokémon Center NYC, which closed in 2005 and became the Nintendo New York store.
Very excited for fans living in or nearby the UK! Where should further stores open? Let us know in the comments! Don’t forget to join our Pokémon forums and Discord server for more discussions!
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