Pokémon Center (store): Difference between revisions
Zesty Cactus (talk | contribs) m (→Online: Actually, it is specifically USA-only (which is totally bogus, but whatevs)) |
Zesty Cactus (talk | contribs) (→Online: Editorial Board decision: this topic is not currently suitable for splitting. In the future, if there is more coverage of online-specific merchandise, then the opportunity for splitting will be present. For now, though, it fits nicely here.) |
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==Online== | ==Online== | ||
[[File:Pokémon Center online.png|thumb|The Pokémon Center North America site the day before closing]] | [[File:Pokémon Center online.png|thumb|The Pokémon Center North America site the day before closing]] | ||
Online stores were available for Japan and North America, as well as an online store which is currently accessible via mobile phones in Japan. Around mid-January 2008, the Pokémon Center online store in North America displayed a closing message, encouraging shoppers to take advantage of closing sales, because the store would be closing at the end of the month. The store did close effective February 1st, but kept a Q & A site in place of the actual store. The reason given for the closing was: "Pokémon USA, Inc. (now part of [[The Pokémon Company International]]) has decided to sell Pokémon merchandise exclusively through its retail partners." The site continued to accept product returns that met their product return standards and were postmarked by February 21st of that year. If one visited [http://pokemoncenter.com pokemoncenter.com], it would redirect to [[Pokémon.com|the Pokémon website]]. On July 2, 2014, the website featured a countdown clock for the grand opening of the Pokémon Center online store and [http://www.pokemoncenter.com/Eevee-and-7-Evolution-Pokemon-Minis/dp/B00JKPI0C6 three] [http://www.pokemoncenter.com/Poke-Plush-Pikachu-Running/dp/B00JG17ZG6 different] [http://www.pokemoncenter.com/Mewtwo-Tumbler-Purple/dp/B00K5S43OG items] avaliable for early-access purchase. | Online stores were available for Japan and North America, as well as an online store which is currently accessible via mobile phones in Japan. Around mid-January 2008, the Pokémon Center online store in North America displayed a closing message, encouraging shoppers to take advantage of closing sales, because the store would be closing at the end of the month. The store did close effective February 1st, but kept a Q & A site in place of the actual store. The reason given for the closing was: "Pokémon USA, Inc. (now part of [[The Pokémon Company International]]) has decided to sell Pokémon merchandise exclusively through its retail partners." The site continued to accept product returns that met their product return standards and were postmarked by February 21st of that year. If one visited [http://pokemoncenter.com pokemoncenter.com], it would redirect to [[Pokémon.com|the Pokémon website]]. On July 2, 2014, the website featured a countdown clock for the grand opening of the Pokémon Center online store and [http://www.pokemoncenter.com/Eevee-and-7-Evolution-Pokemon-Minis/dp/B00JKPI0C6 three] [http://www.pokemoncenter.com/Poke-Plush-Pikachu-Running/dp/B00JG17ZG6 different] [http://www.pokemoncenter.com/Mewtwo-Tumbler-Purple/dp/B00K5S43OG items] avaliable for early-access purchase. | ||
Revision as of 15:45, 13 July 2014
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This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Full addresses for temporary Pokémon Centers, Generation VI logos for Japanese stores, missing Tokyo Bay information |
Pokémon Centers are retail stores that sell official Pokémon merchandise. Japanese stores are operated by The Pokémon Company, while mall kiosks in the Seattle, Washington, area of the United States are run by The Pokémon Company International.
Products
Pokémon Center stores sell many kinds of Pokémon merchandise. This includes Pokémon games, TCG cards, anime videos and DVDs, manga volumes, CDs, and a wide array of products such as clothes, accessories, bedding, sporting equipment, dishes, musical instruments, and toys. For a gallery of merchandise, see Bulbagarden Archives.
Current stores
Japan
From east to west:
Sapporo
- Open:
- July 1, 2005 - October 2, 2005
- July 1, 2006 - October 29, 2006
- from March 6, 2008
- 北海道札幌市中央区北3条西1-2-9 札幌全日空ホテル内1階
- Sapporo ANA Hotel 1F, West 1-2-9 Kita-3-jō, Chūō Ward, Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture, Hokkaido Region
- Phone: 0120-049-725 (Pokémon Customer Support Center)
Tohoku
- Opened December 4, 2011
- Third floor, Aer building, 1-3-1 Chūō, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Tohoku Region
- Opened as a part of the Pokémon with You campaign
Tokyo
- Opened July 16, 2007
- 東京都港区海岸1-2-3 汐留芝離宮ビルディング2F
- 2F Shiodome-Shiba Rikyū building, Kaigan 1-2-3, Minato Ward, Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture, Kanto Region
Tokyo Bay
- Opened November 22, 2013
Yokohama
- Opened March 5, 2005
- 神奈川県横浜市西区みなとみらい2-2-1 ランドマークプラザ4F
- 4F Landmark Plaza, 2-2-1 Minato-Mirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Kanto Region
- Phone: 045-222-5533
Nagoya
- Opened October 22, 2002
- 愛知県名古屋市東区東桜1丁目11番地1号 オアシス21
- Oasis 21, 1-11-1 Higashi-Sakura, Higashi Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Chubu Region
- Phone: 052-950-0758
Osaka
- Opened November 26, 2010
- 大阪府大阪市北区梅田3-1-1 大丸梅田店13F
- 13F Daimaru Umeda, 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Kansai Region
- Phone: 06-6346-6002
Fukuoka
- Opened November 1, 2003
- 福岡県福岡市博多区博多駅中央街1番1号 JR博多シティ8Ｆ（アミュプラザ博多内）
- 8F JR Hakata City, 1-1 Hakataekichūōgai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu Region
- Phone: 092-413-5185
United States
Seattle, Washington
The Pokémon Company International is headquartered in Bellevue, a city that neighbors Seattle.
Northgate Mall
- Opened summer 2010
- 401 NE Northgate Way, Seattle, Washington, 98125
This standalone kiosk in the mall's common area is a vending machine that sells five types of Poké Dolls, several Monster Collection figures, trading cards, and Nintendo DS games. It also features interactive games and a Pokédex for visitors to play with. The tags on the Pokédolls from this machine have unique North-West tags that are yellow, blue, and square in shape.
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma Mall
- Opened ???
- 4502 S Steele St # 1177, Tacoma, WA 98409
This shop is located in the mall common area. It features two vending machines, each offering a selection of up to ten Poké Dolls, the five Nintendo DS Pokémon games, thirteen miniature Monster Collection figures, seven different packs of trading cards, and five full decks of trading cards. The stand also includes two large displays of Poké Dolls, varying in sizes from 6" to 12", as well as a variety of other Pokémon merchandise. Each of the machines are also equipped with several interactive games as well as a touch-screen Pokédex for visitors to enjoy. The stand is no longer watched and operated by The Pokémon Company International employees (who helped make sure the machines were running alright, answered questions, and rang up the sales of merchandise located outside of the vending machines). The tags on the Pokédolls from this machine have unique North-West tags that are yellow, blue, and square in shape.
New York, New York
New York (Nintendo World Store)
- Opened November 16, 2001
- 10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, 10020
- Phone: (212) 307-0900
In January 2005, Pokémon Center New York closed for remodeling. It reopened as a general Nintendo store called Nintendo World on May 14, 2005, no longer as a Pokémon-exclusive store. However, there is a section on the ground floor devoted to the franchise, where there is a large selection of Pokémon video games, trading cards, dolls (which are either imports from Japan or old dolls from the old Pokémon Center), figures, DVDs, clothes and apparel, and other merchandise. Sometimes there might be Pokémon candies or edible foods available. On December 19, 2010, near Christmas time, there was a larger selection of Pokédolls and other collectibles. An event was held at the Nintendo World Store to celebrate the releases of Pokémon Black and White Versions. It also had Pokémon Black and White pre-orders available.
On the floor above is the merchandise of other Nintendo franchises; such as Mario, Kirby, and the Legend of Zelda; including t-shirts and exclusive Nintendo World collectibles. The store also sells video game strategy guides and issues of Nintendo Power. There are game stations where visitors may demo Wii, DS, and 3DS games, including demos of some of the Pokémon games.
Previous stores
Japan
Tokyo
- Opened April 25, 1998
- Closed July 16, 2007
- 東京都中央区日本橋3-2-5 川崎定徳ビル別館1F
- 1F Kawasaki Teitoku Building Annex, 3-2-5 Nihombashi, Chūō Ward, Tōkyō Metropolis
- Phone: 03-5200-0707
Osaka
- Opened November 14, 1998
- Closed November 23, 2010
- 大阪府大阪市北区中崎西2-4-12 梅田センタービルB1F
- B1F Umeda Center Building, 2-4-12 Nakazaki-Nishi, Kita Ward, Ōsaka City, Ōsaka Prefecture
- Phone: 06-6373-8080
United States
Alderwood Mall
- Opened November 2010
- Closed July 2012
- 3000 184th Street SW, Lynnwood, Washington, 98037
This shop was the larger of the two Seattle-area shops, but it was still in the mall common area and limited in size. It featured a larger vending machine kiosk, a tower of Poké Dolls and DX Poké Dolls, and The Pokémon Company International employees who answered questions and rang up sales. It closed in July 2012, due to leasing issues.
Temporary stores
Japan
Chūbu Centrair International Airport
- Opened December 26, 2011
- Closed January 5, 2012
- 4F Chūbu Centrair International Airport, Tokoname, Aichi, Japan
This store sold original Pokémon merchandise and bingo games to play.
Tokyo Character Street
- Opened October 10, 2012
- Closed November 5, 2012
- Number One Plaza, First Avenue Tokyo Station, Chiyoda and Chūō, Tokyo Metropolis
Haneda International Airport International Terminal
- Opened August 4, 2012
- Closed August 19, 2012
- International Terminal, Haneda International Airport, Ōta, Tokyo Metropolis
This store sold original Pokémon merchandise and bingo games to play.
Pokémon Game Show
- Opened August 17, 2013
- Closed August 18, 2013
- Tokyo Big Sight, Odaiba, Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Metropolis
This store was run at the Pokémon Game Show. It had a capsule-toy vending machine selling Pokémon Rumble U NFC figures; special Black Kyurem and White Kyurem figures exclusive to the event were available here.
France
Pokémon Center Paris
- Opened June 4, 2014
- Closed after June 21, 2014
- Crémerie de Paris (Hôtel de Villeroy), 11-15, rue des Halles – angle 9, rue des Déchargeurs 75001 Paris / France
A temporary Pokémon Center store was scheduled to open in Paris, France from June 4 through June 21, 2014. The store featured an exhibition of illustrations from the Pokémon games, interactive events for fans, and the opportunity to purchase merchandise brought over from the Japanese Pokémon Center shops.
Online
Online stores were available for Japan and North America, as well as an online store which is currently accessible via mobile phones in Japan. Around mid-January 2008, the Pokémon Center online store in North America displayed a closing message, encouraging shoppers to take advantage of closing sales, because the store would be closing at the end of the month. The store did close effective February 1st, but kept a Q & A site in place of the actual store. The reason given for the closing was: "Pokémon USA, Inc. (now part of The Pokémon Company International) has decided to sell Pokémon merchandise exclusively through its retail partners." The site continued to accept product returns that met their product return standards and were postmarked by February 21st of that year. If one visited pokemoncenter.com, it would redirect to the Pokémon website. On July 2, 2014, the website featured a countdown clock for the grand opening of the Pokémon Center online store and three different items avaliable for early-access purchase.
On August 6, 2014, the Pokémon Center online store will reopen for customers in the United States at the same URL. Some fans were given advance access via mail, where they can access the Pokémon Center website starting July 2, 2014. These fans have been given some special gifts from The Pokémon Company alongside the invitation: an iPhone 5 case, a notebook, a canteen, and a plush Special Delivery Pikachu.
Trivia
- Every logo uses at least one starter Pokémon, and the franchise mascot, Pikachu.
