Pokémon says it will open a permanent store in London in 2029. That would give the brand its first long-term physical retail location outside Asia in years and, if the company follows through on its broader plan, the first in a wider run of stores around the world.
It’s a real shift in strategy. In Europe, fans have mostly been left with online drops, temporary pop-ups, or the much more expensive option of traveling to Tokyo, Osaka, or Singapore. Meanwhile, The Pokémon Company has kept building in Asia, with a Taipei store that opened in 2023, a Bangkok location planned for 2026, and a Universal project underway in Japan.
What the London shop will actually be called is still up in the air. The Pokémon Company hasn’t labeled it a Pokémon Center. Still, if it ends up following that format, expect the usual mix: exclusive merchandise, collectibles, themed displays, photo spots, region-specific products, limited-edition plushes, card accessories, and those oversized character statues that tend to become attractions on their own.
For European fans who’ve been waiting for an official Pokémon destination closer to home, London looks like a big one to watch. Past pop-ups in the city drew long lines. And while New York had a Pokémon Center from 2001 to 2005 before it turned into Nintendo New York, a London opening would bring back the kind of dedicated permanent Pokémon retail space that fans outside Asia haven’t really had for almost twenty years.
Right now, London is the only city that’s been confirmed. If you want to see where Pokémon goes next, keep an eye on updates from The Pokémon Company International.
Author: Emmanuel Bosque
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