FAO Schwarz first opened in 1862 as “Toy Bazaar” by Frederick August Otto Schwarz. The very first NYC location was opened in 1870 and was known as the “Schwarz Toy Bazaar”. Several more NYC locations popped up overtime and Schwarz became known as “the largest dealer in toys in this city” by The New York Times.
Similar to what just occurred with Toys “R” Us, Fao Schwarz filed for bankruptcy in 2001, but soon emerged in 2003. A second bankruptcy was filed soon after and the original flagship store on Fifth Ave closed in 2004 but was later reopened on Thanksgiving that year. The flagship store finally shuttered its doors in 2015. With the help of Threesixty Group, the brand has been able to operate with various mini-locations opened across the United States.
If you’re on social media, you can keep up with FAO Schwarz by following them on Instagram and on Facebook. Did you ever visit the original FAO Schwarz flagship store in Manhattan during its first run?
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