Nintendo New York

It has been suggested that this page be split into the following: List of official Nintendo stores. (discuss)

"Nintendo World" redirects here. For the theme park area at Universal Studios, see Super Nintendo World.

The Nintendo New York store

Nintendo New York (sometimes written as Nintendo NY; previously known as Nintendo World and The Pokémon Center) is an official store of Nintendo located in New York City at Rockefeller Center. The store was opened on November 16, 2001 as The Pokémon Center and on May 14, 2005 as Nintendo World. Visitors can purchase Super Mario and Nintendo merchandise. Additionally, visitors can play Super Mario games on the Nintendo New York's Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch systems. On February 19, 2016, the store was reopened after a one-month renovation and had its name changed to Nintendo New York.

Upstairs, there is a museum section, though the items on show often change. The second floor also contains a Pokémon section, where a lot of Pokémon plush toys are sold.

Nintendo New York often sells exclusive or rare Nintendo items, as it is the only official Nintendo store in the United States. They also give out special Nintendo shopping bags at checkout, with various character illustrations on them. The store often changes its décor, based on what games have recently been released. They also broadcast live presentations from Nintendo, primarily Nintendo Directs, for crowds of people to watch.

In May 2012, Nintendo opened their second retail store at the Al Faisaliah Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; the store is operated by Shas Samurai, Nintendo's Saudi representative.^[1] In 2019, Nintendo opened two additional stores: one at the Shibuya Parco in Tokyo, Japan^[2] and another at the Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, the latter as part of a newly cut distribution deal with TorGaming Ltd.^[3] Another sister location in Union Square, San Francisco, California is planned to open in 2025.^[4]

In March 2020, Nintendo New York briefly closed its doors due to lockdowns imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; upon reopening the following August, it implemented tighter regulations to reduce the spread of the disease and required visitors to book reservations in advance. During its closure, the store was also one of many buildings that were vandalized by rioters during the George Floyd protests in New York City. Unlike many other affected locations, the damage was limited to smashed windows; the store was temporarily placed under police surveillance as a result.^[5]

Activities[edit]

For some time around January 2010, visitors could go to the store from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and talk to Charles Martinet, the voice actor of Mario, Luigi, and other characters from the Super Mario franchise. On November 7, 2010, on the 25th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros., Shigeru Miyamoto was among the guest visitors.

Visitors can frequently take part in tournaments and can chat with a screen with Mario or Luigi on it.

Whenever a live Nintendo presentation is set for broadcast (such as a Nintendo Direct or Mr. Sakurai Presents), a big screen is always set with a crowd of fans watching together, though this had been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as Nintendo's lack of pre-announced live presentations during this time.

Launch events[edit]

It has been requested that this section be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: Add the missing launch events

Throughout the years, the store has held many launch day events for new game releases, with one of the first major events being for the launch of Super Mario Galaxy on November 12, 2007.

Other notable launch events include:

Mario Kart Wii: The game's launch was one of the first big events held at the store. Outside the store, many tents were placed for customers to enter, with demo kiosks for the game in the shape of the Standard Kart. Additionally, many tournaments were held for the game, with participants being given memorabilia based on Mario Kart Wii, including t-shirts and bumper stickers. Furthermore, customers could create their own Mario Kart license based on the ones from the game, even getting their picture taken for it.^[6]
New Super Mario Bros. Wii: This game had a temporary museum exhibit outside the store for its launch event, featuring a collection of Super Mario memorabilia from over the years.^[7]
Super Mario Galaxy 2: This game's launch had several large decorations around the store including Lubba, Baby Luma, and Cloud Mario. Additionally, Charles Martinet was featured during this event signing autographs and taking photos.^[8]
Super Mario 3D Land: This game had one of the largest events of any release at the store, having an entire segment of New York's Times Square made into an explorable playground based on the game.^[9]
Mario Kart 7: This game's launch featured a life-size replica of the Standard Kart from this game. A tournament for the game was also held in the store, with the first-place winner receiving a custom trophy, and those in second and third receiving medals.^[10]
New Super Mario Bros. 2: This game had its launch themed around the many golden objects and enemies featured in the game. Additionally, a high score contest was held using the game's Coin Rush mode. The contest had 45 prizes, some of which included a Mario Nintendo DS holder, a Mario baseball cap, and a New Super Mario Bros. 2 t-shirt.^[11]
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon: This game's launch event decorated the walls and elevator doors with decals based on the game. Additionally, a large display on the second floor showcased the history of Luigi, having many games and pieces of memorabilia from over the years. A replica of the Poltergust 5000 was featured in this display.^[12]
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team: This game had its launch themed around a pajama party, and had exclusive memorabilia themed to sleeping.^[13]
Super Mario 3D World: This game's launch event had the entire second floor turned into the Sprixie Kingdom, with the Cat forms of the various characters decorating the walls and floors. Both The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour launched on the same day, on November 22, 2013. Island Tour only received a small section of the first floor dedicated to its launch, with a majority of that floor being dedicated to A Link Between Worlds.^[14]
Mario Golf: World Tour: This game's launch event had a Golf Putting Station on the second floor, essentially being a mini-golf course themed to stages such as the Seaside Course and Wiggler Park. This game launched the same day as Kirby: Triple Deluxe, with that game's launch event activities happening on the first floor.^[15]
Mario Party 10: This game's launch event featured displays showcasing the game's amiibo Party mode, and cutouts of the game's amiibo figures were placed around the second floor. The major activity of the event involved a linear board, where customers would roll a dice to move a given number of spaces, and answer a Super Mario trivia question in order to move that number of spaces.^[16]
Super Mario Maker: The launch event for this game was fairly significant, with massive prop replicas of various Super Mario items and objects placed throughout the store. Additionally, hard hats based off of Builder Mario's were given to customers, and wall banners within the store showcased the history of the series up to that point.^[17]
Yoshi's Woolly World: This game's launch event has most of its celebrations held on the second floor, with the standout element being a large diorama based on the game's promotional artwork, including prop replicas of the Wonder Wool, Smiley Flower, and Beads. Furthermore, the display used the Yarn Yoshi amiibo figures to represent the playable Yoshis. The event featured an activity called "'Sew' fun to Sew Station!", where customers could create bead bracelets and other crafts inspired by the game. There was also an activity where customers used balls of yarn to earn points by shooting them through cutouts of characters like Piranha Plants and Baby Bowser. Customers could also obtain posters of the games key artwork, and purchase the aforementioned Yarn Yoshi amiibo, which launched the same day as the game itself. This launch event was the last to be held before the month-long renovations to the store began on January 19, 2016.^[18]
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: This game's launch event featured patriotic decorations in celebration of the Olympics. Additionally, footage of the actual Rio 2016 Olympic Games was streamed on the then recently installed screen on the second floor.^[19]
Paper Mario: Color Splash: This game's launch had an activity where store guests could take custom-made cutouts of Toads to draw and paint their own designs onto that they could then take home.^[20]
Mario Party: Star Rush: This game's launch event featured a meet-and-greet with Mario and Luigi, along with party decorations across the store. The only activity held for the event was a game where customers had to balance a plate of prop acorns on a plate, while not bumping into any of the Goomba cutouts. The prop Goombas were seemingly duplicates of the props used for the Paper Mario: Color Splash launch event about a week prior, as they use the Goomba design from that game.^[21]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: This game's launch event featured decorations highlighting the overhauled battle mode of this enhanced port. A tournament was held for the game's launch, much in the same fashion as the tournament held for Mario Kart 7. This launch event marked the first appearance of the current mascot costume for Mario, replacing the iteration that had been in use since 2009 at the store.^[22]
Yoshi's Crafted World: This game's launch event featured a table filled with snacks themed to Yoshi, various activities based around the arts and crafts theme, and a Yoshi trivia game. The game launched alongside Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn, which was the very last Nintendo 3DS game released physically by Nintendo and had its launch events on the first floor while Yoshi's Crafted World had its on the second floor.^[23]
Super Mario Maker 2: This game's launch event had a multitude of activities, including paper level templates onto which visitors could color their own level designs, and a scavenger hunt to find specific signs within the store. Similar to the event held for the original Wii U game, hard hats based on Builder Mario were given out to customers, although a Luigi design of the hats was also given out to highlight the sequel's multiplayer elements.^[24]
WarioWare: Get It Together!: This game's launch event was relatively less crowded, having the game available from the demo kiosks on the second floor, and no specific pieces of memorabilia were given out for this game.^[25]
Mario Party Superstars: This game's launch event featured cutouts of the playable characters, and postcards themed to the classic game boards.^[26]
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: This game's launch event featured Grant Kirkhope and Davide Soliani hosting a Q&A on the game, signing autographs, and showcasing the game itself. Additionally, there were giveaways of exclusive merch based on the Starburst Spark, and the second floor the store was transformed into the Winter Palace from the game.^[27]
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: This game had an event featuring an interactive physical segment of the Piranha Plants on Parade course from the game outside the store.^[28]
Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch): This game's launch event was less extravagant than most, only featuring a few banners around the store and some keychains and posters of the game's five party members.^[29]
Princess Peach: Showtime!: This game's launch event rethemed a significant portion of the store's second floor into the Sparkle Theater from the game.^[30]
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch): A stamp sheet was given to customers with activities to complete, which included origami tutorials, a paper airplane craft, taking a photo with Mario, and trying out the game in the store. After completing the activities, posters and cards themed to the game were handed out to customers. Additionally, statues of characters such as Goombella, Koops, and Bobbery were displayed on the first floor of the store.^[31]
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition: This game's launch event had all the elements of the physical edition of the game on display, along with the game being playable on the second floor. Additionally, a tournament was held for the game in August 2024.^[32]
Super Mario Party Jamboree: This game's launch event was similar to past Mario Party releases, being themed to a party, with balloons, streamers, and other such decorations. Snacks, drinks, and party hats were given out, along with posters of the game's key artwork. Mario, Luigi and Peach were all available as a group for customers to take photos with. Cutouts of characters such as Mario and Ninji were featured.^[33]
Mario & Luigi: Brothership: This game's launch event had activities themed around the brotherly bond of Mario and Luigi, such as making friendship bracelets. Additionally, cutouts of Mario, Luigi, Connie and Snoutlet were featured within the store.^[34]

Other products besides video games have also been showcased or given special launch events over the years, such as the launch of K'NEX Mario Kart Wii building sets in 2011,^[35] the release of Super Mario amiibo figures in 2015,^[36] and celebrating Mario Day with events themed around the then upcoming release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023.^[37]

Locations[edit]

Location	Current name	Date of opening	Operator
New York City, New York	Nintendo New York	November 16, 2001	Nintendo of America
Riyadh	Nintendo World Store	May 2012	Shas Samurai
Tel Aviv	Nintendo Israel	June 2019	TorGaming, Ltd.
Tokyo	Nintendo Tokyo	November 22, 2019	Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Hong Kong	NSEW	March 2020	Nintendo (Hong Kong) Ltd.
Osaka	Nintendo Osaka	November 2022	Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Kyoto	Nintendo Tokyo	October 17, 2023	Nintendo Co., Ltd.
San Francisco, California	Nintendo San Francisco	2025 (planned)	Nintendo of America

Gallery[edit]

Nintendo World[edit]

Store logo
Inside the Nintendo World store
Old interior
A computer drawing of a red van promoting the Nintendo World store and Super Mario 3D Land, originally posted on Nintendo's Facebook in October 2011
A computer drawing of a red van promoting the Nintendo World store and Mario Kart 7, originally posted on Nintendo's Facebook in October 2011
Photo of a diorama based on Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Photo of a diorama based on Yoshi's Woolly World
The cake celebrating Mario's 25th anniversary.