The former Waterstones building in Oxford is expected to be transformed by Warner Brothers into a visitor attraction celebrating Harry Potter.
The bookshop chain was at Grade II-listed William Baker House on the corner of Cornmarket Street and Broad Street from 1998 until its closure last month.
Waterstones announced in March it was closing and moving to a new premises in Queen Street in a unit previously occupied by the Topman clothing chain. The new bookshop is expected to open in September.
It is understood that businesses in Broad Street were told of Warner Brothers’ interest in William Baker House several months ago.
READ MORE: Opening date announced for new Waterstones store
It was the last day’s trading for Waterstones staff in June, and in recent weeks contractors have moved into William Baker House to start stripping out the fixtures and fittings.
A contractor on site said earlier this week: “Warner Brothers are bringing in their structural engineers this week.
“It won’t be ready to open for about a year. Part of it will be a shop.”
The worker said the movie company would be creating a Harry Potter-themed centre but could not provide further details.
Warner Bros has been asked to comment.
There are already well-established Harry Potter stores in Cornmarket.
Wizard’s Emporium opened next to the former McDonald’s last year, while House of Wonders opened at the other end of the street in 2020.
READ MORE: Another Harry Potter store opens in Cornmarket
Warner Bros run a studio tour in London close to Watford Junction called The Making of Harry Potter.
William Baker House Graham Jones, a spokesman for traders’ group ROX (Backing Oxford Business), welcomed news that William Baker House would be occupied by a new business.
He said: “Every place around the UK is making big claims to have connections with Harry Potter, so why shouldn’t Oxford? Although there are much stronger connections with Tolkien and CS Lewis.
“There are already Harry Potter stores in Cornmarket, so I would hope the new Warner Bros centre will offer something a little different.
“It could be a place where tourists can learn more about the Harry Potter studio tour.
“William Baker House is a large building so perhaps part of it could be some sort of activities centre.
A Harry Potter experience is expected to open in Oxford (Image: Warner Bros.) “Of course it is in a busy shopping area, so I would expect to see lots of merchandise for sale – sweatshirts, other clothing and fridge magnets.”
Mr Jones added that the Harry Potter stories started out in JK Rowling’s books, before they were turned into movies starring Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson. She went to the Dragon School as well as the Headington School in Oxford.
He added: “It looks like the books’ connection with the building is continuing.
“I’ve got fond memories of The Oxford Story, a museum off Broad Street which closed in 2007, where you could ride a desk on an escalator and learn about the city’s history.
“Maybe Warner Brothers will recreate something like that but obviously a much more hi-tech version.”
Oxford Walking Tours offer an Oxford University tour, and a Harry Potter-style walking tour, visiting filming locations and sites of inspiration.
Christ Church college’s staircase and cloisters, along with its Great Hall, served as inspiration for the Hogwarts dining hall, and featured in the Harry Potter films.
The Bodleian Library’s Duke Humfrey’s Library was also used as the Hogwarts library, including the restricted section.
Next door to William Baker House is The Store hotel. It opened in May last year on the site of the former Boswells department store.
Tourism organisation Experience Oxfordshire has been asked for comment.
