Pokémon Is Opening a Permanent Store in London by 2029

Pokémon fans outside of Asia have had to rely on online orders and the occasional pop-up for official Pokémon Center merchandise, but that’s changing, at least for those in London. The Pokémon Company International announced a permanent Pokémon store for London, United Kingdom, which will be the brand’s first physical retail space outside of Asia. The store is scheduled to open by 2029, and the announcement doesn’t include a location or an exact opening date. According to the company, it will carry exclusive merchandise along with experiences for Trainers of all ages, and it’s the first of several permanent Pokémon stores planned outside of Asia.

London has hosted temporary Pokémon Center pop-ups before, starting with the one at Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush that ran from October 18 to November 15, 2019, to mark the launch of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield and the Galar region’s U.K. inspiration. More recently, a 30th anniversary pop-up store ran at the Natural History Museum earlier this year. As for the online side, Pokémon Center currently ships to the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., and it added an Early Access program for newsletter subscribers back in April.

“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. 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.”