“Happee Birthdae”: Harry Potter New York Celebrates One Year

by · June 7, 2022

It’s officially been one year since Harry Potter New York opened its doors, and to honor this anniversary, the first 100 visitors on June 3 received a cake with “Happee Birthdae Harry” written on it, modeled after Harry’s 11th birthday cake from Hagrid featured in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The next 100 visitors received a bottle of butterbeer.

 

 

Doran Finneran, Director of Flagship Retail Operations at Harry Potter New York, stated that the team is most excited by seeing how much the store has meant to its 2 million visitors since it first opened.

It really is a special place, and we’re well into double digits of people who have been engaged in the store; it means something to people.

Harry Potter New York is adored by not only fans but Wizarding World alumni as well. Shortly after its opening, Tom Felton paid a visit to Harry Potter New York and was immediately enamored with the experience.

Felton’s costar Evanna Lynch also shared her enthusiasm for the store after a visit last year. Lynch appreciated the store’s convenient location in comparison to other Wizarding World attractions.

I think the other ones, you have to kind of go out of your way, and it’s a big trek; it’s a pilgrimage, almost. Whereas this, you can be around New York City doing your shopping or at work.

 

Evanna Lynch is pouring Butterbeer from a bottle into a glass with HP labels with a backdrop of a Butterbeer bar with floating bottles overhead.

Evanna Lynch in the Harry Potter New York store pouring butterbeer

 

Harry Potter New York has something to please every Wizarding World fan. Spanning three stories, the store houses the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts merchandise in the world. When guests first step foot in Harry Potter New York, they will arrive at the Atrium of Awe. This area showcases a griffin rotating above the store’s spiral staircase, which connects the three floors.

 

The Atrium of Awe at Harry Potter New York features a Griffin guarding a spiral staircase.

The Atrium of Awe, featuring a griffin guarding a spiral staircase, welcomes guests at Harry Potter New York.

 

Harry Potter New York also includes a Ministry phone box, which has become a popular spot for guests to take photos. Guests can also indulge in Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and many more magical treats inspired by Honeydukes. A haunting collection of Dark Arts-inspired merchandise is available for sale in the cellar.

The store offers one-of-a-kind merchandise in “Things That Must Be Named,” where patrons can personalize wands, journals, and House robes with their names. This station has welcomed 45,000 guests in the past year. Finneran attributes the success of this area to the individualized nature of the experience.

As a person with a unique name, I could never buy that souvenir magnet. At The Things That Must Be Named station, you can personalize anything we sell with each individual’s name. I really love the engagement with that.

Harry Potter New York also features a butterbeer bar, which offers draft butterbeer, butterbeer-flavored ice cream, and bottled butterbeer. The butterbeer bottles feature an exclusive design from MinaLima.

 

Butterbeer bottles are attached to the ceiling with lights coming from the insides.

The butterbeer bar at Harry Potter New York features butterbeer bottles designed by MinaLima.

 

In July 2021, two virtual reality experiences were added to the store. “Chaos at Hogwarts” allows guests to explore Hogwarts with Dobby, helping find loose magical creatures throughout the castle. In the second experience, “Wizards Take Flight,” guests fly alongside Hagrid as they soar through London and face off against Death Eaters.

The team at Harry Potter New York is excited to bring even more magic to the store, with a Diagon Alley-themed section in the works. Additions to the butterbeer bar are also planned.

Harry Potter New York is located at 935 Broadway in the Flatiron District of New York City. It is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays.

 

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