Harry Potter Flagship in New York Tests Whether the Magic Remains in Hands-On Retail

For 31-year-old Timmara Robinson, the nearly six-hour wait in the car to get into the new Harry Potter New York flagship store — after having to first stand in line to scan a QR code to join a virtual queue — was worth it when she saw the effect on her daughter. The 10-year-old was delighted by a scavenger hunt, an interactive wand duel, drinking a butterbeer and stepping into the big shoes of Hagrid, the half-giant from the popular book and film series.