UK retailer CeX has quietly confirmed plans to open its first dedicated retro store in Birmingham, according to a listing on its own store locator. The move comes as the company, the largest gaming retailer in the UK following the downfall of GAME, faces an increasingly digital gaming landscape.
CeX store locator reveals 'Retro Birmingham'
As reported by YouTuber Retro Ghetto, CeX is planning to launch a retro-only offshoot in Birmingham later this year or in early 2027. While the retailer has not publicly announced the store, which is allegedly codenamed 'ReX' or 'CeX Retro', a listing for 'Retro Birmingham' has appeared on the company's store locator at 89-90 Bull Street.
The listing provides no photos or opening date, presumably because the store is not yet finished, but it serves as confirmation that the store will exist in the future. According to Retro Ghetto's initial report, the store will be dedicated entirely to retro games, including imported titles from Japan and North America, and may also stock arcade machines and retro collectibles.
Retro store trial could lead to more locations
It is claimed that this first store in Birmingham is 'very much a trial' for more retro CeX shops in the future. 'It's more a case of if it goes well, that will happen,' Retro Ghetto said, citing internal CeX sources. 'If it doesn't, it won't.'
The store will also reportedly have a 'dedicated analyst' whose job is to assess the price of items brought into the store and update their systems to remain in line with rivals. This comes as Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation discs after 2027 has accelerated fears about the second-hand retailer's prospects.
The big question is whether a retro CeX chain can prove enticing to hardcore collectors, especially against competitive prices on online marketplaces. Regular CeX stores are not known for offering the best deals on trade-ins of games, DVDs, Blu-rays, and hardware, but the company is presumably aware of that reputation.
