The Harry Potter phenomenon swept through Alexandria, just as it did the rest of the world beginning at midnight, June 21.
"The books are flying out of here," said Brad Pettingell, co-manager of the Old Town Books-A-Million store, that morning.
Sales of the fifth volume in the Harry Potter series were embargoed until June 21, so Pettingell’s store, along with most other book stores, opened for a few hours at midnight to accommodate buyers who couldn’t wait. By 11 a.m., Saturday, the store had sold more than 200 copies.