About FAO Schwarz
More than 145 years ago, Frederick August Otto Schwarz, namesake of the world-famous retailer FAO Schwarz®, and his three brothers from Westphalia, Germany founded FAO Schwarz, opening their first shop in Baltimore, Maryland. From there, each of the brothers opened a Schwarz “Toy Bazaar” in Philadelphia, Boston and New York. The FAO Schwarz New York location was destined to dominate the family business. Over the next hundred years, FAO Schwarz expanded its national presence and grew its international reputation through beautiful catalogs and an exciting website, FAO.com.
Today, FAO Schwarz has evolved from a simple toy purveyor into a must-see destination, enchanting customers and creating memories that last a lifetime through its stores, catalogs and website experiences. The FAO Schwarz brand is synonymous with quality and innovation, and its assortment of extraordinary products has cultivated a loyal clientele.
The FAO Schwarz flagship store is now prominently located on 5th Avenue in New York City. It opened in this location in 1986, but the flagship’s history includes six other locations in Manhattan over the course of 100 years. The store was immortalized as an iconic childhood wonderland in the movie BIG starring Tom Hanks and has been an essential part of any visit to New York City for generations of children – and adults – from every corner of the globe.
The legendary FAO Schwarz is not only the oldest toy store in the United States, but one of the oldest retail establishments of any kind. In May 2009, FAO Schwarz was acquired by Toys“R”Us, Inc. – the world’s leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer. Together, the Toys“R”Us® and FAO Schwarz brands have been the delight of families for a combined 210 years and represent unprecedented expertise in toy retailing. While continuing to preserve the distinctiveness and integrity of the FAO Schwarz brand, Toys“R”Us, Inc. is committed to growing the business and taking the brand to even greater heights.