New pop-up shop in Japan turns avoiding overly helpful staff into a real-life stealth game
Department store PARCO has announced the opening of a new, experimental pop-up shop that turns the act of shopping into a stealth-based game.
The new “attraction-style apparel shop,” named “esc,” is a collaboration with the brand “Tokiqil,” which is known for its puzzle-based shopping experiences.
This new event is built around a common social anxiety: the desire to browse in a store without being approached by an overly helpful clerk.
“esc” takes this feeling and transforms it into a high-stakes, team-based challenge.
The game is played in a private, ticketed session for a team of up to three people.
Once inside the store, the team has a maximum of five minutes to browse and select items to purchase.
During this time, a staff member acting as a “hunter” will patrol the store.
If any member of the team is spoken to by this staff member, the game is immediately over, and the entire team must leave the store.
The goal is to use teamwork and cleverness to successfully select items and make it to the checkout without being engaged in conversation.
The store’s layout and the products on offer will be changed randomly, and special products and services will be made available to teams who manage to “survive” for a long time without being caught.
The shop will sell original “esc” branded apparel, such as T-shirts and hats, as well as acrylic stands and other goods.
The experience will feature background music composed by the musician Sasuke Haraguchi and a “Store Manager” character voiced by the streamer Yamien.
Each participant is required to purchase at least one item of ¥1,100 or more to take part.
The “esc” pop-up shop will be held on the B2F floor of the Ikebukuro PARCO Main Building.
The event is scheduled to run from Friday, the 22nd of August, 2025, to Sunday, the 7th of September, 2025.
More information can be found on the official website.
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