History of FAO Schwartz Toys

A German immigrant named Frederick Schwartz opened his first toy store in New York City in 1870. New Yorkers welcomed Fao Schwartz toys with enthusiasm and the company developed, resulting in many more stores being opened. The company was eventually scaled down and now consists of the flagship store on Fifth Avenue and one on 58th Street in Manhattan. There is also one in Las Vegas in Caesar’s Palace Shops and it was announced in October 2007 that a new store would open inside Macy’s in Chicago.

The stores are well known and attract out of town visitors. Shopping for children can be exhausting and Fao Schwartz stores provide a caf? and ice cream parlor for parents to re-charge their batteries and to entertain the kids. The store provided the location for the famous scene in the movie Big, in which Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia play on the 22 foot piano. In reality, professional dancers are hired to entertain the customers and dance on the piano. A break from shopping is further provided with a turn in the Motion Simulator Ride. Children will also be enthralled with the life sized stuffed animals around the store.

There is so much choice today in the toy market and Fao Schwartz toys cater for every age range and taste. There are sections for babies, toddlers and pre-school years in addition to toys and games for older children. One of the most popular areas in the store is the Harry Potter Shop. The old favorites, such as dolls, stuffed animals and Playmobil are all found here. Lego features too, including a replica of Hogwarts Castle, so familiar to Harry Potter fans.

Action figures include Harry Potter, Star Wars characters and a talking Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. Other figures include sports stars, such as major league baseball players. There are also model cars and trains and radio controlled and remote controlled vehicles. Younger children enjoy Fao Schwartz toys that help their development like the block number abacus. The shiny ride on fire engine is hard to resist and the play kitchen is great for role playing.

There is a lot of interest in classic toys from the past and Fao Schwartz toys are a part of that with their retailing of marble sets and dominos. Another popular item is the Curious George Jack in the Box. Classic games are represented too with 1930s and 1950s themed Monopoly boards.

A favorite classic toy is the Tonka Dump Truck.