It won’t be long before fans in Singapore can swing by the Pokémon Center at Jewel Changi Airport. Following its temporary closure to make way for the first major revamp overseas, the storefront is set to reopen on 1 July, with the Legendary critter Solgaleo serving as the new symbol.
A statue of the Pokémon Sun game mascot — picked for its sun-like mane and resemblance to a lion, which reflects the country’s alternative name of the Lion City — and Pikachu will greet visitors at the entrance, while its interior features a dedicated space to host events focused on video games, trading cards, and the like. As previously announced, “heritage-inspired installations alongside interior design elements inspired by everyday local culture” can also be expected.
To celebrate the occasion, Pokémon Center Singapore is bringing special-edition merchandise to its shelves, joining the standard mix of plush toys, keychains, magnets, postcards, and more. The first wave will be available on the day of the reopening, comprising 12 items that range from a logo pin (S$10) and a plush of Pikachu holding a durian (S$34) to a metal plate (S$198). A second rollout follows in August, with a bag charm depicting Pikachu and a cup of kopi, a colloquial term for ‘coffee’, listed as a highlight.
For those looking to drop by from 1 to 5 July, some crowd-control measures will be in place. Advance reservations are required between 10am and 1pm, and same-day tickets — distributed on-site from 8.30am daily on a first-come, first-served basis — grant entry after 1pm. More details of the application process will be shared on the store’s official Instagram page in phases.
Pokémon Center Singapore opened in April 2019 and was the first permanent launch outside Japan. Since then, Taiwan has gotten its own outlet in Taipei, and Bangkok is preparing to open one at CentralWorld later this year.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
