There is a child in all of us just waiting to be let free, and there is no better place to let that child out than the FAO Schwarz Flagship Store. FAO Schwarz is a company that thrives on that child inside us all, and providing wonder and joy to our imaginations.
The History of the Company
Founded in 1862, FAO Schwarz is the oldest toy store in the United States. It has survived for over a hundred and fifty years, a survival it has earned, and one that it definitely deserves. Known for its unique toys, life-sized stuffed animals, and more the FAO Schwarz brand is one that doesn’t go unnoticed. In 1870, just eight years after it was founded under the name ‘Toy Bazaar’, Frederick August Otto Schwarz opened a New York City location. At the time it was known as the ‘Schwarz Toy Bazaar’ and though it moved twice around the city, by 1897 it had reached fame that lead Schwarz to be described as ‘the largest dealer in toys in this city’ by The New York Times.
Since that time, the store has occupied many locations and has been described in many ways, including as the ‘original Santa Claus Headquarters’, and eventually the company settled into the name we know it by now, FAO Schwarz. In 1986 the company opened a flagship store. That store has remained the flagship store for the company since that time, and has continued to inspire children of all ages with its beauty and ingenuity.
The Flagship Store
Since 1986 this Fifth Avenue store has set the bar for toy stores, creating an atmosphere that cannot be duplicated. From the Muppet Whatnot Workshop, to the well-known floor piano, the store itself is an experience that can’t be missed. Add to that the FAO Schweetz store, offering hundreds of different types of candy and the FAO Café, offering a variety of foods from many of New York City’s eateries, and you have a toy store that is for so much more than toys. Here, imagination can thrive, and finding the right toy isn’t about walking hurriedly through aisles. This store is an experience, and it’s one that should not be missed.
As An Icon
Children aren’t the only ones who take notice of the FAO Schwarz flagship store. It has been featured in many popular movies, and has become an icon of New York City. From the 1988 film Big to the 2011 film The Smurfs, many movies set in New York just wouldn’t be the same without their FAO Schwarz scenes. As such the store, and the famous floor piano within it, have become an icon in today’s world.
A toy store shouldn’t just be about toys, and the FAO Schwarz brand has been proving that for over a hundred and fifty years. The flagship location hasn’t been around quite that long, but it began by setting the bar high, and has only raised it over the years. It is truly a magical toy store, full of wonder and imagination.