I Went to Chicago's New Harry Potter Shop: Magical Props, Exclusive Merch, Butterbeer

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Harry Potter Shop Chicago entrance

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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. 

A golden egg and stained glass window with a mermaid in the entrance of the Harry Potter Shop Chciago

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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 Harry Potter Shop Chicago merch including shirts, sweaters and a teddy bear

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Exclusive merch for Harry Potter Shop Chicago includes shirts, sweaters, bags and a stuffed animal bear. 

Exclusive Harry Potter Shop Chicago merch including shirts and sweaters

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It's not merch without some Spirit Jerseys! 

A replica of the Goblet of Fire with a blue flame

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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. 

A Goblet of Fire wand with a blue handle

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Exclusive to Harry Potter Shop Chicago is this Goblet of Fire wand, with the blue flame on the handle. 

Butterbeer with an exclusive Chicago label, featuring the Chicago flag

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Another exclusive is this Chicago-fied Butterbeer label, which features the stars from the Windy City's flag. 

Ollivanders wand shop, with hands lining the walls and on the center counter

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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. 

Harry Potter Shop Chicago Tom Felton

While browsing the store, I stumbled upon actor Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies. (I was definitely fangirling.)

Hogwarts house robes hang on a display rack

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Back to the merch: Shop for your house robes and enjoy the trunk displays at the top.

Hogwarts house-themed shirts and stuffed animals

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Show your house spirit with clothes, stuffed animals and drinkware. (Fellow Hufflepuffs, represent!) 

Sweets from Honeyduke's sweetshop, and a giant wheel to see which flavor of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans you'll get

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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.)

Sweets from Honeyduke's sweetshop, including Chocolate Frogs and Exploding BonBons

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House of Minalima sign

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And yes, there is a House of Minalima at this location!

Exclusive Harry Potter Shop Chicago art from Minalima hangs on the wall

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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. 

A counter for personalizing jerseys, robes and other merch

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Personalize your robes, wands and other merch at this station. You can also customize your Hogwarts acceptance letter. 

Short green shelves line the queue, with an image of the Triwizard Cup in the background

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Even the queue is themed around Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, with green-toned shelves and the Triwizard Cup in the background. 

A Butterbeer sign hangs above a cafe selling Butterbeer and baked goods

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Take a Butterbeer break -- you can choose from a beverage or Butterbeer ice cream. 

Cupcakes, cookies and popcorn in a display case

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There are also other sweet treats, like a Hedwig cupcake, a Goblet of Fire cookie and Butterbeer popcorn.

A woman in a floral headscarf with a cup of Butterbeer smiles at the camera

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Of course, I couldn't leave without getting some Butterbeer. Cheers!

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