1 week Ago By Abrar Al-Heeti
The magical world of Harry Potter has landed in the Windy City. Harry Potter Shop Chicago opens April 10, at 676 N. Michigan Ave.
There's even a Patronus outside to welcome you. Let's go inside. In the entrance, you're greeted with a golden egg, as featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
You'll also see this stained glass window with a merperson on it. The entire store is themed around Goblet of Fire -- unlike the New York location , which isn't themed around a specific book. Exclusive merch for Harry Potter Shop Chicago includes shirts, sweaters, bags and a stuffed animal bear.
It's not merch without some Spirit Jerseys! The goblet of fire sits in the center of the store. The blue flame will occasionally turn red, as it does in the book and movie when a name is dropped into it. Notice that the floor around the goblet has a maze pattern, in reference to the maze in the Triwizard Tournament.
The wands featured on this display are for characters who participated in the Triwizard Tournament. Exclusive to Harry Potter Shop Chicago is this Goblet of Fire wand, with the blue flame on the handle. Another exclusive is this Chicago-fied Butterbeer label, which features the stars from the Windy City's flag.
The wand chooses the wizard -- but you can choose your wand in this Ollivanders section, which makes it feel like you're looking out onto Diagon Alley. While browsing the store, I stumbled upon actor Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies. (I was definitely fangirling.
) Back to the merch: Shop for your house robes and enjoy the trunk displays at the top. Show your house spirit with clothes, stuffed animals and drinkware. (Fellow Hufflepuffs, represent!) Satisfy your sweet tooth with treats from Honeydukes, and spin the wheel to see which flavor of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans you land on.
(I got booger. Hooray.) Chocolate Frogs galore.
And yes, there is a House of Minalima at this location! You can shop for prints and other merch from the graphic designers of the Harry Potter films, including this exclusive Chicago print signed by the artists. Personalize your robes, wands and other merch at this station. You can also customize your Hogwarts acceptance letter.
Even the queue is themed around Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, with green-toned shelves and the Triwizard Cup in the background. Take a Butterbeer break -- you can choose from a beverage or Butterbeer ice cream. There are also other sweet treats, like a Hedwig cupcake, a Goblet of Fire cookie and Butterbeer popcorn.
Of course, I couldn't leave without getting some Butterbeer. Cheers!.
