What was the name of Pokémon's first dedicated retail store?

Pokémon Center Tokyo was Pokémon's first dedicated retail store.

The store opened in Tokyo in 1998, giving fans a physical destination for Pokémon games, toys, clothing, stationery, and other licensed merchandise. It became the foundation of the Pokémon Center chain.

Pokémon Center stores are named after the healing facilities found in the games and anime, but they are real-world retail locations rather than medical clinics. The original Tokyo store helped establish the franchise's branded shopping experience beyond video games and television.

The chain later expanded to other Japanese cities, including Osaka, Nagoya, and Yokohama. International Pokémon Center online stores and temporary retail events followed, but Pokémon Center Tokyo remains the historical starting point for the dedicated store network.