A giant store dedicated to the Harry Potter universe opens in New York

 Steph Deschamps / May 4, 2021

Dressed in pointy hats and Hogwarts wizard robes, hundreds of fans gulped down Buttercup and posed in Hagrid the Giant's shoes Thursday at the opening of the world's largest Harry Potter store in New York City.

Hundreds of fans of the most famous of the wizard apprentices queued for hours in the rain to be the first to discover the three floors entirely dedicated to the world imagined by J.K. Rowling.

It's really magical, says Margaret Suarez, whose boyfriend arrived at 6 a.m., four hours before the scheduled opening.

This 30-year-old fan quickly decided on the witch Bellatrix Lestrange's wand and figurines.

In my heart, I am a witch, she told AFP. I really want to have a wand and customize it to live in my favorite fantasy world.

Ruben Juarez, 27, and his wife had traveled from far away Texas for the opening of this 2,000 m2 store, near the famous Flatiron Building.

We are delighted to be here. I love everything about Harry Potter, said the young man, red and gold striped scarf of Gryffindor around his neck.

Police officers had been surrounding the long line of fans since the day before, who continued to arrive all morning.

Inside the store, many were taking self-portraits in front of the red telephones that were supposed to carry wizards and witches to the Ministry of Magic.

Others were trying on knitted Quidditch jerseys, sipping a Beerberry at the bar or flipping through copies of those novels that sell half a billion copies worldwide.

The Bièraubeurre is like soda foam, only spicier. There's no equivalent, frankly, said Emilee Rodriguez, 21.

The store had planned to open in 2020, but the pandemic had delayed the deadline.

But the wait was worth it, felt Alexandra Ewing, 19.

This is the best moment of my life, I'm constantly holding back tears, I love it, she said.