Shopkeeper

A shopkeeper is a witch or wizard who owns or manages a retail establishment in the wizarding world. These individuals are fundamental to the wizarding economy, providing a vast array of goods and services. Most wizarding commerce is concentrated in dedicated areas, such as Diagon Alley, its darker offshoot Knockturn Alley, and the all-wizarding village of Hogsmeade. Shopkeepers sell everything from essential Hogwarts school supplies like wands, robes, and potion ingredients, to more specialized items like magical creatures, joke products, and even dangerous Dark Arts artefacts.

The following is a list of known shopkeepers and their businesses, primarily located in the major commercial hubs of Great Britain.

• Tom: The toothless, wizened innkeeper and proprietor of the Leaky Cauldron, the pub that serves as the public entrance to Diagon Alley from the Muggle world.
• Garrick Ollivander: The world-renowned wandmaker and owner of Ollivanders, a shop that has been making and selling fine wands since 382 B.C. He was abducted by Lord Voldemort's followers during the Second Wizarding War.
• Madam Malkin: A squat, smiling witch who is the proprietor of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Her shop is the primary supplier of Hogwarts school uniforms and other wizarding attire.
• Florean Fortescue: The owner of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. A knowledgeable historian, he was notably kind to Harry Potter, giving him free sundaes and helping him with his homework. He was later abducted and killed by Death Eaters.
• Fred Weasley and George Weasley: The twin founders and charismatic proprietors of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Their colourful and successful joke shop at number ninety-three Diagon Alley was a symbol of defiance against Lord Voldemort's regime.
• Unnamed Witch: The proprietor of the Magical Menagerie, a crowded and noisy shop that sells a wide variety of magical creatures. She wears heavy black spectacles and offers advice on animal care.
• Unnamed Manager: A wizard who manages the Flourish and Blotts bookstore. He notably dealt with the chaos of a Gilderoy Lockhart book signing.
• Unnamed Apothecary: The owner of the Apothecary, a shop that sells potion ingredients.

• Borgin: The stooping, oily-haired proprietor of Borgin and Burkes, a notorious shop specializing in objects with dark, dangerous, or questionable magical properties. The shop was co-founded by him and the late Caractacus Burke.

• Madam Rosmerta: The beautiful and popular landlady of The Three Broomsticks inn. She was unwittingly used by Draco Malfoy after being placed under the Imperius Curse.
• Aberforth Dumbledore: The gruff barman and owner of the Hog's Head Inn, a more disreputable pub than its competitor. He was a key member of the Order of the Phoenix and provided crucial aid to Harry Potter during the Battle of Hogwarts.
• Ambrosius Flume and his wife: The owners of Honeydukes, the legendary wizarding sweet shop famous for its vast selection of magical confectionery.
• Madam Puddifoot: The owner of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, a small, frilly establishment often frequented by Hogwarts couples on dates.

Shopkeepers are central figures in their local communities, functioning as more than just merchants. Their establishments often serve as social hubs, like the Leaky Cauldron or The Three Broomsticks, where news and gossip are exchanged. For Hogwarts students, shopkeepers in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are an indispensable part of their school experience, providing all their required supplies. During the Second Wizarding War, the state of these shopkeepers and their businesses was a direct reflection of the state of the wider wizarding world. The mysterious disappearance of Florean Fortescue and the boarding up of many shops in Diagon Alley were stark indicators of the growing terror. Conversely, the continued, vibrant operation of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes served as a powerful symbol of hope and resistance against Lord Voldemort's dark regime.

The term “shopkeeper” is a straightforward English compound word, combining “shop,” a place of business or retail, and “keeper,” one who owns, manages, guards, or maintains something. Its use in the wizarding world is identical to its Muggle meaning.

• J.K. Rowling revealed that she had originally planned for Florean Fortescue to be a source of crucial information for Harry Potter regarding the Elder Wand and Ravenclaw's Diadem. She later decided this was not a good fit and had him abducted and killed, expressing regret over his unresolved storyline. This plot function was instead filled by other characters, such as Aberforth Dumbledore and the Grey Lady. (Pottermore)
• The physical appearance of Tom, the innkeeper of the Leaky Cauldron, differs between film adaptations. In the film version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, he is portrayed as a relatively ordinary-looking, balding wizard. In the adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, he is depicted as a small, hunchbacked man, a notable departure from his book description. (film)