After the opening of an ‘Amirale’ boutique in New York in June 2021, fans have long wondered how long would you have to wait to see a new store Harry Potter official open its doors. The answer is finally here: 4 years! Indeed, Warner Bros. is preparing the opening of a second store in the United States, this time in Chicago (Illinois), at 676 Michigan avenue. This street, nicknamed Magnificent Mileis renowned for being a very commercial area. Indeed, it is home to large historic business districts as well as numerous hotels and luxury boutiques.
An opening planned for 2025
Magnificent Mile – Chicago (Illinois)
Sarah Roots, executive vice president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Studio Tour and Retail, spoke about this new opening:
“Our ambition is to bring a little Harry Potter magic to Chicago through our unique themed shopping experience and unrivaled product selection. I am delighted that we have secured such a beautiful property in a prime location and look forward to the opening next year. »
This is certainly not the first time that Chicago has put on Harry Potter colors. In fact, the city is currently hosting the “Cursed Child” tour until February 1, 2025 and was the first to offer the experience Magic at Play successfully.
There is no doubt that this prime location will attract surrounding residents and tourists who flock to visit these legendary neighborhoods to let themselves be carried away by the magic.
Is the United States privileged?
It is therefore the second permanent official store on American territory, outside of the Universal parks. Such shops, independent of any attraction, are still rare: they can be found in certain London airports, and in the Akasaka district of Tokyo. We could possibly also include the store at King’s Cross, London, as Platform 9 3/4 is nowhere near as important as the Studio Tour or the Universal parks.
The United States is therefore not the only one to host such places, but the difference in scale and investment is notable. In the New York store you will find imposing decors, replicas of accessories, interactive elements, exclusive objects… (find our report on visit to the premises HERE). It’s not really just a “boutique.” »
Elsewhere in the world, Warner Bros. has chosen to work in partnership with specialized brands. This is particularly the case in Germany and was also the case in France, until the closure of the partner store. However, these initiatives cannot compete with what is being implemented across the Atlantic.
Now that the official department store project seems to be relaunched, let’s hope that continental Europe is also on the agenda!
Have you visited the New York store? Are you going to take a trip to Chicago to visit this new store? Share your thoughts with us.
Source : Mugglenet
