Kara Dennison
August 29, 2021 
In the video game world, you can go to a Pokémon Center to heal up and get items. In the real world, you can… well, get items! No healing there, last we checked. But these official stores are full of cool merch and limited-edition goods. Sadly, they’re closing up shop for a bit — some locations permanently.
But we’d rather be happy than sad, so we’re thinking of more ways our favorite battling monster game has made it into our world. Some of these are closing up for now, too. But we’re sure they’ll be back!
London’s Two Pop-Ups
Not every country has its own Pokémon Center. But for a brief time, England did! This pop-up carried official merch, much of it themed to a British vibe. It even had a dapper little Pikachu in a bowler!
The pop-up is not to be confused with the Detective Pikachu experience that went up in Covent Garden. (That’s right, they got two!) The film shot in London, and supplied part of the aesthetic for the movie’s fictional Ryme City. So it was a perfect spot for the experience. Sadly, those photo ops and cute food were a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But speaking of cute food…
Pokémon Café
An anime is hardly an anime without a collab café these days! Just as the Pokémon Center feeds your shopping need, the café feeds your… well… tummy.
Visitors can enjoy lunch plates themed to their favorite ‘mons, with special menus celebrating new games as they come out. You can snack on an entirely Eevee-themed meal, for example, served up on a matching plate and placemat. Sadly, a lot of these spots will be closing down temporarily as well. Look forward to their reopening!
Pikachu Outbreak
Don’t worry. Everything is fine. It’s just a couple dozen giant Pikachus here to dance for you.
The Yokohama Pikachu Outbreak may sound like a very weird Resident Evil crossover, but in actuality it’s a relentless parade of cuteness. Giant Pikachu mascots march through town and put on shows. The tradition started in 2014, and has happened several times since. In 2019, the event upped its game with projection mapping and LED-enabled costumes. When will the next outbreak be? That remains to be seen.
While the Pokémon Center may stay closed permanently in some cities, it’s good to know there’s no shortage of real-world Pokémon events out there. Which ones will you be going to?
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