[Feature] Celebrating 25 Years of Pokémon Centers at EUIC 2023

Since the very first store opened its doors back in March 1998, 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of Pokémon Centers. Sadly, we do not reside in Japan and have yet to ever visit the fine country, but we hope to change that in the future. In the meantime, fortune had smiled upon us.

With a pop-up Pokémon Center set to make its return as part of the Pokémon EUIC 2023, there was no way we could let opportunity to pass us by. We had already missed out on Worlds last year, but we made sure we were going to be at EUIC 2023 and what a time we had. Still, this feature piece is not about the actual event, but about the pop-up center itself and what a lovely market it was.

Granted those seeking entry needed to book an appointment should they wish to enter, for those who were able to enter beneath the large hanging sign, guarded by Pikachu and Eevee, a utopia of Pokémon merchandise awaited.

Ranging from clothing to wallets, watches, Poké Balls, books, plushies and of course, Pokémon Trading Card merchandise, there was plenty to fall in love with. The Ocean of Friendship Figure depicting Lapras, is utterly gorgeous to see in person. The hand puppets of Psyduck, Quagsire, Marshtomp and Slowpoke are adorable and come on, who doesn’t want a plush hat of Gengar? Still, one needs to maintain some decorum when trapsing through this humble center, for if you have come ill-prepared in the monetary department, as tempting as it is to start grabbing must have items, you can swiftly rack up a huge debt.

I for one would personally love to own the 59-inch Arcanine plush. It looks utterly magnificent but at £399.99, I couldn’t justify making the purchase there and then, especially not when I needed to make my way home at the end of the day and commute via train. I don’t think Arcanine would have liked that ride, or necessarily have made it home in one piece.

Still, from everything that was on offer and on show, there truly was something for everyone and for those curious, while Pokémon Centers in Japan will be doing a serial code distribution for a special Pikachu that can be redeemed in the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet games, I did ask, but no distrubution would be taking place in the UK via this Pokémon Center.

It’s a small shame, but an expected one nonetheless and it didn’t damper my mood one bit to finally be able to experience a Pokémon Center for myself and an army of event staff littered throughout the venue and on the tills, ready to deprive paying customers of their hard-earned Pokémon Dollars. But hey, here’s to 25 years of Pokémon Centers and all the photos we took of the center at EUIC 2023:

Celebrating 25 Years of Pokémon Centers at EUIC 2023: (Landscape)

And just in case you feel like we might have left something out in the 65 images above, don’t you worry, we still have plenty more photos for you to flip through, this time in portrait mode:

Celebrating 25 Years of Pokémon Centers at EUIC 2023: (Portrait)

Should you reach this point and still feel like you have yet to see a must have item leap out of you, maybe some of these upcoming products can sway you instead? The Gengar plush hat and plush backpacks look utterly amazing:

Coming Soon to the Pokémon Center: