The first official Pokémon Center store opened in Japan in 1998.
Pokémon Center stores are specialty retailers selling Pokémon games, cards, plush toys, clothing, accessories, and other licensed products. The first store opened in Tokyo's Nihombashi district, creating a dedicated retail destination for the rapidly growing franchise.
The stores take their name from Pokémon Centers in the video games. In those games, a Pokémon Center is a building where players can heal their teams, access storage systems, and sometimes use communication features.
Japan later developed a nationwide network of Pokémon Center locations, while official stores and pop-up shops appeared in other markets. The name can therefore refer either to the real-world retail brand or to the in-game healing facility; the 1998 date concerns the physical Japanese store, not the earlier video-game buildings.