In the Wizard Geek store, in Montpellier -

N. Bonzom / Maxele Presse

  • In Montpellier, a new boutique dedicated to the “Harry Potter” saga has opened.

  • And, like other stores in its genre, it was taken by fans.

  • Why ?

    Because the saga has never ceased to fascinate, because parents pass on their passion to their children and because new fans are seduced by the prequel, “Fantastic Beasts”, which is in development.

For

Harry Potter

fans

, the Wizard Geek store is a real Ali Baba cave.

This store, which opened in the Odysseum shopping center in Montpellier (Hérault), is entirely devoted to the saga imagined by JK Rowling, and his no less famous spin-off,

Fantastic animals.

We find a lot of objects there: soft toys, sodas (butter beer!), Badges to claim one's favorite “house” (the “classes” in the saga), the model of the famous Poudlar Express or magic wands!

Official products, flushed out from approved wholesalers, who work hand in hand with Warner, the mother studio of

Harry Potter

, says Frédéric Soulié, who created the shop.

Parents pass on their passion to children

This entrepreneur has already opened the same store in Béziers, before casting a spell on Odysseum.

“I wanted to open a shop that would bring together several famous licenses,” says Frédéric Soulié.

But chatting with a friend who is a

Harry Potter

fan

, maybe even more so than me, I thought maybe this was the right choice.

"

It is, yes: in Montpellier, it is not uncommon to see long queues hanging out in front of Wizard Geek.

Before Christmas, several thousand curious people went there.

Elsewhere in France, other stores have opened.

And each time, it is the same enthusiasm, witness to the tireless success of the saga, for more than 20 years.

But why ?

“Parents, who discovered

Harry Potter

when they were younger, pass this passion on to their children,” continues Frédéric Soulié.

Many children start to read books, schools use them to give them a taste for reading.

"

"Far from the hassle of everyday life"

"The fans of the time are now mothers and fathers who shared their love of this universe with their children," confirms Mika, editor-in-chief of 

The Hogwarts Plume,

dedicated to

Harry Potter

.

And, he adds, "early fans were joined by a new generation of fans, who discovered

Harry Potter

through the [

Fantastic

Beasts] prequel

."

This world, populated by wizards and creatures, also offers "a multitude of possibilities to manufacturers of derivative products," continues this enthusiast.

The children of the 1990s who devoured books when they were released have become today's customers, with their adult purchasing power ”.

Angie is also a fan of the bespectacled wizard.

She was among the first to visit the store.

"This saga remains in our memories for its history, its magic, for its world above all," she confides.

Not to mention the trio Harry, Hermione and Ron, way too cute!

".

So these shops, continues this student from Montpellier, "it gives the impression that this world comes to life, and it can help morally, sometimes, by thinking of this magical world, far from the hassle of everyday life".

"When it comes to

Harry Potter

, all pretexts are good"

Amber is also a "big fan" of

Harry Potter

.

She plans to go push open the store door soon.

But she fears… for her wallet.

"I am rather very reasonable concerning my expenses, even during the sales, I do not crack, says this student.

But when it comes to 

Harry Potter

, any excuse is good to buy.

Before, it was at Planètes forbidden [a bookstore in Montpellier] that I was going to fall for the last Poufsouffle notebook.

So there, I know myself, if I go to this store, it will take a friend to accompany me, to prevent me from splurging.

"

And to seduce the fans even more, Frédéric Soulié has planned, when the health situation has calmed down, to invite stars of the saga.

In Béziers, actors have already come to make dedications.

Notably Jamie Waylett and Josh Herdman, aka the two aspiring wizards who play nasty tricks on Harry's gang in the movies.

Series

"Harry Potter": A series in development for HBO Max?

Culture

Brittany: Gryffindor or Slytherin?

A bed and breakfast inspired by the Harry Potter universe opens its doors

  • Languedoc-Roussillon

  • Culture

  • Shop

  • Cinema

  • Montpellier

  • Harry potter