After around a month in which it was closed for refurbishment the Nintendo World Store has been re-opened as the Nintendo NY Store, a name change that hopefully points the way to long term plans for more regional stores around the US and beyond. The revamp opens up the space and has more demo units for Wii U and 3DS, including a 15 foot gaming screen.
As you'd expect Nintendo made an event out of its re-opening on 19th February and has shared some official snaps of the event. Quite a number of fans queued up, while Charles Martinet teamed up with some Nintendo of America executives for the big day - these included the marvellously named Vice President of Sales, Doug Bowser.
The official images are below. If you were there or are planning to check out the redesigned store let us know!
Comments 35
I hope they thought about the NX when they went about refurbishing this place. It looks like the Wii U kiosks are purpose built rather than interchangeable.
I hope that they launch one in London soon.
That statue will make Amiibo sell in boatloads.
That Mario statue is creepy looking.
Nintendo LA store; let's make it happen
Nintendo Asia store anyone? Us around Asia aren't getting some love....
Huh, so Bowser's first name is Doug? Who knew...
The remodel makes the store much more open and looks cleaner, and I'm sure the did it with new system hardware in mind.
What a fantastic bit of PR this has been- I've seen it everywhere from the games sites, to the entertainment sites to business sites.
I bet it barely makes it's rent, but it's put Nintendo in the spotlight of the media at a key time for them.
My wife saw the really long line on the way to work at 8:30AM so she kept walking. She went back at lunch to find a much shorter line but that was only the first of 3 lines, they separated the line for pedestrians. So she never made it in.
On the bright side my boys and I went to Gamestop and got the Mew scratch off cards for the 3DS games and they picked up some Pokemon cards.
For those complaining about the cost of NFC toys, my youngest has spent over $95 on Pokemon cards over the past month. He's smart enough to have my wife take him sometimes and I take him sometimes so neither of his parents feel like he is spending too much. My wife and I only figured it all out last night. Boys and their toys.
OMG THAT HUGE MARIO AMIIBO
@rjejr LOL I use to do that to my parents and I'd get my grandma in on it too. Get lots, not a single person is spending too much omg
It would be cool if Nintendo had a few of these around the world. In London, Paris, Berlin etc.
Missed the MYY and this because I was there pretty early but for some reason left and didn't come back for a few hours, only to not be able to make it in the first day due to the crazy line.
Got in the 2nd day though(one of the firsts there) and it still wound up being packed, heh...streetpass city.
It looks pretty dang good.
I want that giant mario amiibo
I don't care where, but Nintendo, give us Nintendo [European place]
@rjejr Busted, huh? Well, you have to admire his smarts!
One of my best memories was waiting in line for the release of Mario Kart 8 at this store I shake my head at the stuff people often stands in line in in nyc, but this was worth it. Got a MK8 Flag, keychains, and the version that came with the blue shell that I turned into a giant blinged out necklace
Definitely am going to check out the new design of the store. Did they get rid of the little museum part? The 9/11 gameboy is priceless.
Nintendo LDN, Nintendo LA, Nintendo BER, so many possibilities!
I just saw an article on Nintendo Everything that the manager of the Nintendo NY store mentioned that there were no plans for any others.
If true than that sucks but also kinda makes me wonder why bother changing the name.
Can't wait to visit the refurb! Looks like they are starting to get more focused on displaying the Mascots. I really like the statues. And that natural light coming from the corner on the 2nd floor where the display cases used to be definitely will make the store pop. Very smart upgrade for sure.
I figured it would have been a very busy there for the reopening, and my wife and I are more fans of wondering into NYC as tourists for the day unplanned...not a good idea this weekend though.
And my wife is only 4 weeks away from delivering our very own Princess Peach, Daisy, Rosalina or Princess Zelda. It would of been too hard for her to stand and waddle around the city today.
Beautiful day (weekend really) for the event though for those fortunate to visit!
@FragRed Why would the manager know about it anyway? It's not the store manager that gets to decide plans for others. For all we know, NOE and NOJ could be planning to open stores
@RobNYC1977 I read that they relocated the display case museum and its now moveable for various events. They also put on display each of the historic consoles in acrylic display cubes along the plaza window upstairs.
@MrGawain interesting you said that, as I was there once and two co-workers were saying that the other had their hours cut in front of his very eyes. His words not mine! I have seen people buy systems in there and I normally spend a small fortune in there whenever I'm lucky enough to go to NYC (I live in the UK, so going there is quite expensive for us)
Nintendo probably foots the bill for the rent, pay all running costs and maybe, just maybe what money it does take pays for the workers there.
Does anyone know what's the merchandise like nowadays? I went last year and felt a little disappointed with it but I think Nintendo do an excellent job there promoting games, I played a game in there Elliot Quest and when I got home I downloaded it on the Wii-U! had I not had seen it I wouldn't have downloaded it. If funding allows for it, I'd love to go back next year or the year after if not. Thank You Nintendo Life for covering it, I hoped you would and you guys have.
I wish I was there..
I visited the place two years ago, along the stuff I bought, the paperbags are the most awesome ever
But yeah, WHERE IS EUROPEAN NINTENDO STORE!?
C'mon NoE! Make one in Berlin! And maybe 2nd one on London!
@Mbrogz3000 good luck with the new arrival, exciting!
@Pj1 I will admit, in my opinion and this is only my opinion, that the merchandise can be a little lacking some visits. Tshirts, mugs, bags, lanyards, posters, wall art, cheap action figures, good figuart and good smile display figures only occasionally, board games, plush dolls... That's about it and there are only so many times you can see the same stuff with little to no change. Sometimes the new hard to find amiibos are readily available. Things like the Christmas sweaters can be purchased from eBay at around the store price. The swag items also are on eBay at reasonable prices.
Nintendo should consider finding some of their old SNES and NES and gameboy demo units for upstairs for the retro guys like me. Those things were true works of art!
@MJKOP Thanks!
Only a two hour drive from me, yet I have never been. Going to make this happen this Spring!
They need a store in Vegas!!!
I've never had the personal opportunity to visit the store, but someday I hope to make it down there for a visit. This place looks awesome! And I'm sure the NX will have it's own special place within when the time comes for it to be sold/displayed. I DO love that giant Mario Amiibo statue! That would look great in my den.
I happened to be visiting NYC so decided to head over to the grand opening. Turns out folks had been camping out since the night before. There were hundreds, if not thousands queuing. Great atmosphere, great people. I never realised Nintendo was still so popular. Queued for 3 hours and decided to return next day.
It's a wonderful store (even my gf loved it and she's not a gamer) and the merchandise is high quality and reasonably priced. Might go back before I leave!
I was there back in 2007. Overpriced merchandise but i still have my nintendo store mug as it didnt break on the flight back to blighty. Store looks much better now.
Yes ,the shopping bags are the best part
I got to check it out Tuesday evening after work. Wish I could of made it for the weekend grand reopening but I dislike commuting into the city on the weekend (from Brooklyn) and I have to wait for two package Friday.
@Mbrogz3000 Thank You for replying to me, I gotta start saving to go back one day.
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