FAO Schwarz

F.A.O. Schwarz is the name of a high-end toy store chain founded in New York City in 1870 by German immigrant, Frederick August Otto Schwarz. The original name of the store was Toy Bazaar. more...

(The company traces its history back to 1862 in Baltimore, when Schwarz first began retailing toys from his fancy-goods store there.)

F.A.O. Schwarz was notably featured in the 1988 Tom Hanks film Big, in which Hanks and Robert Loggia played "Chopsticks" on the store's signature 22-foot piano.

At it's hight, the chain had a total of 40 stores throughout the United States. In 2001, The Right Start Company bought 22 of the 40 stores, with the other 18 unsold stores immediately close. In December of 2002 Right Start, the parent of F.A.O. Schwarz, filed for bankruptcy. They would emerge from bankruptcy in April of 2003 only to re-enter in December of 2003, forcing all stores to close. After F.A.O Schwarz was again sold to new owners, the New York City and Las Vegas stores reopened on Thanksgiving Day 2004. The New York City store on Fifth Avenue is still very popular, and one of the most famous buildings in New York City.

Locations of F.A.O. Schwarz stores

• New York City (Fifth Avenue at 58th Street)
• Las Vegas (The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

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