Though Harry Potter and his status as an English literary icon are inseparable, the wizard and the franchise surrounding him have found themselves receiving favorable treatment in New York City, too, with the 2016 prequel film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” occurring in 1920s New York and the Broadway play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” having delighted audiences since 2018. It is fitting, then, that the Big Apple will continue to be a land of enchantment for the character’s fans, as summer will see the opening of the first official Harry Potter flagship store, and it promises spellbinding merch.
Warner Bros. announced that a new store dedicated to the "Harry Potter" and "Fantastic Beasts" franchises will open in New York City this summer.
The three-floor shop will sell personalized robes, house wands, and treats from franchises like Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. pic.twitter.com/xRwuXmvG8A
— Potterhead (@AllboutHogwarts) January 11, 2020
Last week, we looked at an unfortunate matter in the world of Harry Potter infatuation, so it’s a relief that Warner Bros. is giving us a chance to vary the news cycle. As Sarah Roots, senior vice president of worldwide tours and retail for the entertainment company, said, the Empire State spot “will be the largest dedicated ‘Harry Potter’ store in the world and will become a must-visit fan destination where ‘Harry Potter’ enthusiasts can engage with interactive experiences and numerous photo opportunities as they step into the magic.”
Giant 'Harry Potter' superstore opening near Manhattan’s Flatiron Building this summer!
It'll be the world’s first official Harry Potter flagship store (and the biggest) at 935 Broadway, with 3 floors and more than 20,000 sq. ft. of space to explore 🎩🧐https://t.co/Uxa233Wdwk
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) January 9, 2020
With respect to the Harry Potter franchise, branded merch has proven as much of a mainstay, and therefore a massive moneymaker, as J.K. Rowling’s lauded imagination. While details on the intended store are scant, Insider explained that visitors to the three-floor, 20,000-square-foot space will want to whiz around to inspect and enjoy “new and exciting goodies like personalized robes, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, and special house wands.”
We think we have begun to trim down after our copious holiday season eating, so we might, if we also stick with our gym resolution, head to the location to have ourselves fitted for some of these robes. With summer a little more than five months away, our suspense will only grow as we wonder what else might join the garments as purchase options. We can already be sure, though, that no matter the amount or variety of the goods, devotees are going to be parting with plenty of galleons to own their pieces of wizarding history.
