Bangkok is set to open its first Pokémon Center at CentralWorld later this year, making it the third official branch outside Japan and reinforcing Thailand’s growing status as a Southeast Asian cultural hub.

Get your Poké Balls ready, trainers! Bangkok is about to receive its first Pokémon Center later this year, as Pokémon Thailand and Central Pattana are already making moves. 

With CentralWorld expected to be the chosen arena, Pokémon Center BANGKOK – only the third official branch outside Japan, after Singapore and Taiwan – is shaping up to be a crowd favorite, as Thailand continues its rise as Southeast Asia’s next big cultural hub.

Let’s be honest: for a lot of us, Pokémon is pure nostalgia fuel: the anime marathons, the Pokémania craze of the late ’90s and early 2000s, grinding through Game Boy RPGs (seriously, who could forget their first wild encounter in Pokémon Emerald?) and of course, the global takeover that was Pokémon GO on IOS.

These days, though, the franchise seems to be living a second life through trading cards – a billion-dollar scene, no less. The nostalgia hasn’t faded; it’s just evolved, much like our trusty Charizard. 

The store will stock everything from plush toys to themed accessories. Everyone has a favourite Pokémon, but when it comes to plushies, Jigglypuff is always on the run from Poké fans, as it were – its soft pink, round shape and wide eyes are simply too hard to resist. 

On top of that, Trading Card Game competitions and special events will also be in the mix, making it both a store and a space for Pokéfans to connect.

The opening date, exclusive products and other fun activities will be revealed at a later stage. Stay tuned via the official website and Pokémon Thailand’s Facebook page.