Wizards and witches from all over the globe have been flying into the Big Apple to enjoy all the magical goodies found at the Harry Potter flagship store.
Last June was a momentous time for all Harry Potter fans as the Harry Potter store opened in New York City. The store, located next to the Flatiron building at 935 Broadway, spans three floors and over 21,000 sq. ft, making it the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products under one roof.
This magically immersive experience grants customers the chance to bring the magic of Harry Potter to life. The astounding designs combined with the interactive elements and products can make this the perfect attraction for any fan in the area (especially now that there’s no queuing to get in!).
Entering the store is like walking into a completely different universe as you’re greeted by a hand-crafted version of Fawkes the Phoenix right upon arrival. Instantly green, red, blue, and yellow catch your eye with all the Hogwarts house merchandise that they have available to purchase. They have a multitude of products in house colors: sweaters, hoodies, shirts, pins, hats, and socks. You can even get the school robes, cardigans, and matching scarves & gloves to match your favorite characters from the movies.
Every witch or wizard needs a wand; usually, this happens at Ollivander’s wand shop, but you can find the next best thing in NYC. You can see which wand calls to you and the wands of various characters, locations, and props from the Wizarding World. Fans of quidditch will be delighted to find out that there is a Golden Snitch wand exclusive to Harry Potter New York. Another bonus is the interactive wand table where you can try your hand at bringing your favorite character to life with the touch of a wand.
House Wands at the Harry Potter Store
Becoming a Hogwarts student is what every fan wants, and with the VR experiences, that’s as close as you can get to getting your Hogwarts letter. Each student has the choice of casting spells with Dobby to wrangle up some pixies or flying on their broom with Hagrid dodging and battling Death Eaters over the Black Lake.
As you continue walking into the store, you’re met with a massive, majestic griffin identical to the one guarding Dumbledore’s office in the movie (the Griffin housed within Harry Potter New York is actually cast from the original prop seen on-screen ). Right next to the Griffin, you can walk into the area inspired by the whimsy of Honeydukes. You can find magical candy galore from Chocolate Frogs to Bertie Bott’s Every Flavored Beans (if you look up, you may even see the giant chocolate frog move and ribbit!).
All the kids in the store will be gathered under the Dirigible Plum tree to find their favorite magical creature soft toy. They have so many to choose from, they have various Fantastic Beasts, or you can have your own Dobby or Hedwig. Those future wizards that look close enough may spot a few Bowtruckles hiding inside the Dirigible Plum Tree!
If you happen to be a Slytherin trying to learn more about the Dark Arts, head downstairs in the Floo Network elevator to find an area full of Deathly Hallows, Azkaban, and Death Eater inspired goods. Down there, you’ll see an oversized version of Nagini that could even pass as a basilisk as she speaks Parseltongue to her fellow snakes.
Elevators designed to look like the Floo Network in the movies
Although dark and dreary in some spots, this cellar area has diamonds and art shining brighter than if you said ‘Lumos.’ The jewelry offered here is nothing short of perfection; they have time-turners, head boy and girl pins, and house-related necklaces and pins. The art showcased in this store is full of Daily Prophet covers, Hogwarts acceptance letters, and The Quibbler, which is all hand designed by the talented MinaLima, who were the actual prop designers from all the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.
The last stop in the cellar is the perfect destination to pick up any gifts or treats for yourself in the Harry Potter store. For any personalizations you may want to be added to your new merchandise, visit the area aptly named ‘Things That Must Be Named.’ You can get an engraved wand, an embossed journal, or your name on any of your House gear.
Personalized Notebooks at ‘Things That Must Be Named’
Lastly, don’t forget to stop at the Butterbeer Bar on your way out! You can choose from draft Butterbeer, bottled Butterbeer, and even Butterbeer ice cream. If you grab a bottled Butterbeer, you can check out a brand-new, exclusive to the Harry Potter New York store bottled Butterbeer label. MinaLima also designed these labels, and the art is inspired by the Magical Congress of the United States of America introduced to fans in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Although the recipe is top secret, the butterscotch flavor is still perfect for all fans who know and love it!
