Pokémon fans outside Asia have had to travel to the continent or wait for a pop-up nearby to spend money at the brand's physical retail locations. That is about to change. The Pokémon Company says it is opening several permanent stores outside Asia, and the first will be in London, slated to open by 2029.
Pokémon pop-up shops have appeared in London before, including one at the Natural History Museum earlier this year and others during various editions of the Pokémon European International Championships. Like those pop-ups, the permanent location will sell exclusive merchandise.
Gaku Susai, The Pokémon Company International's chief product and experience officer, said the company is always exploring new opportunities to create unique and memorable experiences for 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," Susai said.
The Pokémon Company said it will reveal details about other physical locations in the future. If it brings a store to New York, that would not be its first in the city. Pokémon Center New York opened in 2001, and four years later that location was turned into Nintendo's flagship physical store.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing