New Harry Potter Store Will Have Interactive Experiences And Cool Spots For Photos

If you happen to be in the Big Apple, you will soon be able to visit the Wizarding World without even taking the Hogwarts Express. ...

Posted 11:30 a.m. Apr 27, 2021 — Updated 4:00 p.m. Apr 27, 2021

If you happen to be in the Big Apple, you will soon be able to visit the Wizarding World without even taking the Hogwarts Express.

On June 3, the Harry Potter Store in New York will open its doors to the public. Shoppers can immerse themselves in all things Harry Potter in the three-story flagship store spanning more than 21,000 square feet, which is located at 935 Broadway, next to New York’s famed Flatiron Building.

What To Expect At The Harry Potter Store

The Harry Potter store, which was announced in January 2020 but delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, will have 15 different themed areas. The zones are impeccably decorated with meticulously detailed, handcrafted props, such as the massive, 220-pound model of Fawkes the Phoenix watching visitors who enter the Harry Potter store. Each zone will be loaded with photo opportunities as well, some of which you can see in this post on the Harry Potter store New York’s Facebook page.

“Strike a pose inside a London phone box as if transporting yourself to the Ministry of Magic or step into Hagrid’s boots for the ultimate photo op,” they wrote.

The Harry Potter Store Will Have Interactive Experiences

If you don’t already have it, you will want to download the Harry Potter Fan Club app before visiting. The app will help you find Enchanted Keys throughout the Harry Potter store that will unlock videos, behind-the-scenes details and more, bringing the store to life as you browse.

There will also be two virtual reality experiences to immerse yourself in. The multiplayer, location-based VR adventures let you interact with the Wizarding World in real-time. You can take a magical journey to Hogwarts Castle with “Chaos at Hogwarts” or engage in a wand battle against death eaters in “Wizards Take Flight.” The VR experiences are scheduled to open in the Harry Potter Store this summer.

Visitors can also pop into America’s only House of MinaLima, modeled after the iconic London shop of the graphic design duo who designed the graphic props in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. The gallery and store will showcase the graphic art of the Wizarding World, such as prints of the Daily Prophet covers, Harry’s Hogwarts acceptance letter and the Quibbler.

You Can Get Personalized Wands And Other Gifts

With so many interactive touches, it sounds like it will be best to experience the Harry Potter store in person. However, if the Potter fan in your life can’t make it to the store, it’s a terrific place to pick up a gift.

Along with a collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products, shoppers can browse more than 50 wands inspired by the Wizarding World in the Wand Shop, including the Harry Potter store New York’s exclusive Golden Snitch wand. You can even get wands and other finds personalized, as noted in this tweet from the store.

“One of a kind personalization including engraving your wand, embossing a journal, and even embroidering a house robe with your name,” the store posted.

“The level of artistic detail and quality of the design inspired by the movies means Harry Potter New York will bring a completely new shopping experience to the city,” Sarah Roots, EVP Warner Bros. Worldwide Tours and Retail, said in a statement. “With over 1,000 Wizarding World props on display (including some authentic items which featured in the movies), the incredible theming, along with experiences such as photo opportunities and the fantastic range of products, there will be something special for every fan.”

Upon opening, the Harry Potter store will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 health guidelines, including opening at reduced capacity, requiring customers to wear face coverings and ensuring physical distancing. Customers scan a QR code upon arrival to join a virtual queue and will be notified when they can enter the shop.

If you can’t make it to New York, you can browse a selection of items from the store at the Harry Potter Shop online.

This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories.

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