The first real-world Pokémon Center store opened in April 1998.
The original store was in Tokyo, Japan, and was created as a specialty retail destination for Pokémon merchandise. It was named after the Pokémon Centers in the games, where Trainers restore their Pokémon and manage their teams. The real stores instead sell products such as plush toys, figures, clothing, stationery, and other licensed goods.
Pokémon Center Co. Ltd. was established in 1998 by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak to manage specialized Pokémon merchandise stores. The chain later expanded across Japan and eventually opened locations outside the country, including stores in the United States, Singapore, and Taiwan.
The fictional and commercial uses of the name are related but not identical. In a game, a Pokémon Center is a service location; in the real world, Pokémon Center refers to a retail brand. The first store helped make Pokémon merchandise a dedicated shopping experience rather than only a section of a larger shop.