An official Harry Potter store will open in New York City this summer. The book series may have ended years ago, but the Harry Potter franchise has only gotten bigger. Between The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, the Fantastic Beasts spin-off film franchise, and the sequel play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the story about The Boy Who Lived is clearly alive and well. While the Fantastic Beasts films and The Cursed Child are not quite as well-received as the flagship series, their very existence proves there is still some interest in the universe.

After initially opening in London, The Cursed Child moved to Broadway and earned instant praise, and later went on to win Best Play at the Tony Awards. Despite an initial bout of success, however, The Cursed Child’s ticket sales have recently seen a downturn. At the current moment, it plans to remain open. On the film side, a third Fantastic Beasts film is currently slated for release on November 12, 2021, with two more installments planned afterwards.

On Thursday, Warner Bros. announced the creation of the first official Harry Potter flagship store (via PR Newswire). The new Harry Potter store will be located in New York City, near the iconic Flatiron building, and will span three floors. The store will feature the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts merchandise, including items which will be exclusive to New York City. Some of this merchandise includes wands, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, and personalized robes.

SVP Worldwide Tours and Retail at Warner Brothers, Sarah Roots, said in a statement, “This 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.” It was also noted that the store will “provide fans with a number of exciting retail experiences that evoke the magic of the Wizarding World.” Its proximity to The Cursed Child, as well as the fanbase’s continued passion for the universe, will likely ensure some healthy foot traffic. The store is aiming for a Summer 2020 opening.

While recent additions to the Harry Potter universe have soured some fans (not to mention author J.K. Rowling’s recent Tweets), the creation of a store dedicated entirely to the Harry Potter series is bound to cause some excitement. The theme parks at Universal Studios have seen great success, especially since they give fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world and purchase items like wands. It will be interesting to see how the store is going to “evoke the magic of the Wizarding World.” If done right, it will enchant fans and bring them back for repeat visits. In the end, there’s a chance that the only thing that could hold people back is absurdly high prices.

More: Every Movie In The Harry Potter Universe Ranked According To Rotten Tomatoes

Source: PR Newswire

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