1862; 162 years ago (1862) (as Toy Bazaar) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Founder
Frederick August Otto Schwarz
Headquarters
Rockefeller Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
Number of locations
6
Products
Toys
games
clothing
baby products
Owner
Morse Partners (1986–1990) ThreeSixty Group (2016–present)
Parent
W. R. Grace and Company (1970–1974) Christiana Companies (1985–1986) Vendex KBB (1990–2001) Right Start (2001–2004) Toys "R" Us (2009–2016)
Website
faoschwarz.com
FAO Schwarz is an American toy brand and retail chain.[1] The company is known for its high-end toys, life-sized stuffed animals, interactive experiences, brand integrations, and games.[2]
FAO Schwarz claims to be the oldest toy retailer in the United States, founded by its namesake, Frederick August Otto Schwarz, in 1862 in Baltimore before moving to New York City, where it has moved between several locations since 1870. The dance-on piano, made famous by the 1988 Tom Hanks film Big, brought international attention to the brand. FAO filed for bankruptcy twice in 2003 before temporarily shuttering the Fifth Avenue location in January 2004.[3] In May 2009, Toys "R" Us Inc. acquired FAO Schwarz, but in 2015, it permanently closed the Fifth Avenue location. ThreeSixty Group then acquired the brand, who opened the new FAO Schwarz location at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in November 2018. In 2019, ThreeSixty opened locations in Chicago,[4] Beijing,[5] London[6] and Dublin.[7]
The "FAO Schwarz" brandname and trademarks are owned by the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation and exclusively licensed to the ThreeSixty Group who own and operate the retail locations.
^"FAO Schwarz: 150 Years of Toys". CNBC. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014.
^Verdon, Joan (October 14, 2010). "Toys 'R' Us has big plans for luxe retailer FAO Schwarz". Daily Record. Morristown, New Jersey. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012.
^Schlossberg, Mallory (July 15, 2015). "The world's most iconic toy store is shutting its doors today". Business Insider. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^Zumbach, Lauren (April 15, 2019). "FAO Schwarz, Eddie Bauer, sushi: Midway Airport is becoming more like a mall. And there's more to come". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^Yew, Linda; Liu, Yujing (March 5, 2019). "FAO Schwarz to open its largest flagship toy store in Beijing to introduce Chinese consumers to 'experiential' shopping". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^Lim, Kelly (October 24, 2019). "FAO Schwarz Opens First European Flagship at Selfridges in London". Women's Wear Daily.
^Quann, Jack (May 20, 2019). "FAO Schwarz to open flagship store in Dublin". Newstalk.
FAOSchwarz is an American toy brand and retail chain. The company is known for its high-end toys, life-sized stuffed animals, interactive experiences...
Frederick August Otto Schwarz (October 18, 1836 – May 17, 1911) was a German-born American toy retailer known for founding FAOSchwarz. Schwarz was born to a...
first "Big Piano" was built in 1982. The piano was on display at the FAOSchwarz toy store in New York City when famed movie producer/director Steven...
center finally opened in March 2002. FAOSchwarz was one of the first retail casualties at the Grove after FAOSchwarz's parent company had to declare bankruptcy...
City, FAOSchwarz, was founded under the name Schwarz Toy Bazaar. It was founded in 1862 by the German immigrant, Frederick August Otto Schwarz. The former...
Zany Brainy was an American retail store chain owned by FAOSchwarz. Its merchandise consisted of educational toys and multi-media products aimed at children...
permanent puppets were made for them. The Muppet Whatnot Workshop at FAOSchwarz opened in 2008, which allowed people to purchase a custom Whatnot with...
assimilated into FAOSchwarz. Charles was born in Herford, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia and was the first of the Schwarz brothers to immigrate...
000-square-foot (4,900 m2) space formerly occupied by FAOSchwarz on New York's Fifth Avenue. FAOSchwarz had been paying $20 million in rent. The store's...
construction of a nursery in Trump Tower. She had a baby shower at the FAOSchwarz toy store, but she insisted that the toys and gifts she received be donated...
possibilities. In 2001, they purchased FAOSchwarz from Royal Vendex KBB and Zany Brainy. They changed their name in 2002 to FAO Inc. In 2003, they twice filed...
(February 3, 2001). "Warner Signs Off On Studio Stores". Orlando Sentinel. "FAOSchwarz owner to again enter Chapter 11". Chicago Tribune. December 3, 2003....
first, the group's videos were distributed in boutique stores such as FAOSchwarz and Zany Brainy, and on-line. According to Paul Field, they entered the...
2013. In May 2012, Midtown Comics opened a boutique inside the flagship FAOSchwarz toy store in Manhattan's Fifth Avenue shopping district. The boutique...
on August 2, 1997 at a cost of $120 million, anchored by a flagship FAOSchwarz toy store. A Muvico cinema and IMAX theater, and a host of theme restaurants...
representatives of Toys R Us, who did not return Schwarz's phone calls. However, specialty toy chain FAOSchwarz expressed interest for the unique toys and...
was officially renamed the Comcast Building on July 1, 2015. Toy store FAOSchwarz opened a store at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in November 2018. In April 2022...
professional services Fairchild Fashion Group media Fairway Market retail FAOSchwarz retail The Food Emporium retail Food Network media Foot Locker retail...
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