Pokemon to open first pop-up store in Manila in October

Attention Pokémon fans! A Pokémon pop-up store is coming to Manila in October.

The announcement was made by Pokémon Company Senior Director Daisuke Kobayashi during Pokémon's 30th Anniversary Press Conference in Manila on July 7.

According to Kobayashi, the pop-up store will run from October 2026 to January 2027 at the SM Mall of Asia.

The pop-up store will feature a wide range of products, including Pokémon Center Original merchandise, popular items such as trading cards and plushies, limited edition items, and many more.

In addition, special merchandise commemorating the 30th anniversary is scheduled to go on sale.

A Pokémon Trading Card Game tutorial sessions and a gaming experience booth will also be set up in the pop-up store.

Pokémon became a global hit after its 1996 launch as a role-playing game for Nintendo's handheld Game Boy console.

Inspired by the Japanese summer childhood tradition of bug-collecting, players catch and train in battle hundreds of round-eyed "pocket monsters" inspired by everything from mice to dragons.

The franchise also includes movies, an animated TV show, and the "Pokémon Go" augmented-reality mobile game. —MGP, GMA News