A sprawling, Harry Potter-themed store is just weeks from opening on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, furthering a national expansion of experience-based retail and offering a potential lift to the city’s best-known shopping avenue after years of struggles.
Harry Potter Shop Chicago’s opening day at 676 N. Michigan Ave. will be April 10, Warner Bros. Discovery Retail Experiences announced Tuesday.
The flagship’s design, inspired by “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” will include a speakeasy-like Butterbeer Bar, props from the movie franchise inspired by J.K. Rowling’s series of books, a confectionery and Harry Potter gear, according to a statement.
Hands-on experiences have gained popularity throughout the country in recent years as consumers have sought to do more than just shop.
Other concepts that have emerged in Chicago include the Museum of Ice Cream experience at the south end of the avenue within Tribune Tower.
The Harry Potter store is set to open amid continued high vacancy on the approximately milelong stretch of North Michigan Avenue, but also amid recent leasing victories including a huge store from Spanish clothing chain Mango immediately south of the Harry Potter store.
The high-vacancy retail portion of Tribune Tower recently went on the market for sale, after some landlords have handed back financially struggling properties to their lenders. Most recently, that included the Alaska Permanent Fund walking away from its longtime investment in the Shops at North Bridge vertical mall.
The space Harry Potter is taking over in Chicago previously was leased to clothing retailer Express, which closed in early 2021.
Harry Potter’s loyal fans could bring the type of crowds that could help lift the Mag Mile, following the brand’s flagship store in New York and studio tours in London and Tokyo.
The play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” recently ended a monthslong run at the Nederlander Theatre in Chicago’s Loop business district.
The New York flagship opened in the Flatiron District in 2021. In Chicago, a short-term Harry Potter pop-up closed in the Water Tower Place vertical mall on the Mag Mile in late 2023.
"With the incredible success of the New York flagship store, bringing the Harry Potter world to life on Michigan Avenue was an absolute must," said Karl Durrant, a senior vice president at Warner Bros. Discovery Retail Experiences, in the statement. "From the shop's design to exclusive merchandise and a speakeasy-inspired Butterbeer Bar, Harry Potter Shop Chicago is infused with nods to the city's rich history and unique culture, giving fans a one-of-a-kind experience and unforgettable connection to the wizarding world."
CoStar News first reported a deal was in the works for the Harry Potter store at the base of the 347-room Omni Chicago Hotel in September, and Warner Bros. confirmed in October that it had signed a lease.
The space is owned by TRT Holdings, which also owns the Omni hotel chain.
The store will span 12,300 square feet, according to Warner Bros. Including space in the basement, the lease is for 23,200 square feet, according to CoStar data.
Harry Potter Shop Chicago’s features will include a moving mermaid stained-glass window inspired by the window in the Prefects’ bathroom at Hogwarts, suspended broomsticks, a golden egg, Chicago-exclusive wizarding merchandise, a wand room and a section curated by MinaLima, the graphic design studio behind the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.