A Rich History

Frederick August Otto Schwarz, namesake of the world-famous retailer FAO Schwarz and his three brothers from Westphalia, Germany founded FAO Schwarz more than 145 years ago. Today, FAO Schwarz has evolved from a simple toy store into a must-see world-famous experience. Our three stores, catalogs and website enchant our customers and ensure memories that last a lifetime.

In 1862, the four Schwarz brothers operated their first shop in Baltimore, Maryland. From there, three of the brothers ventured forth to each open their own Schwarz "Toy Bazaar" in Philadelphia, Boston and New York. The FAO Schwarz New York location was destined to dominate the family business - though each set the standard for quality service and products from Europe's finest toy resources. In 1876, FAO Schwarz issued its first catalogue exclusively for their loyal clientele. In 1880 after ten years on 9th and Broadway, FAO Schwarz moved to larger quarters in New York's Union Square, which was then the fashionable shipping hub housing such stores as Tiffany and other fine retailers.

Over the next hundred years, our company has moved to larger locations and we expanded our national presence with a grand flagship store in the renowned Forum Shops in Las Vegas. We also grew our international reputation through beautiful catalogs and an exciting website. All through the years we have worked hard to stay true to Frederick August Otto Schwarz's vision: to offer unique products, presented by experts in an atmosphere of wonder.

We choose our products carefully to insure that we honor our 145 year old tradition of offering quality products, but we also take care to make sure our selections are relevant to each new generation. Each product reflects FAO Schwarz's dedication to quality and creativity. Our customers trust us to deliver extraordinary products and there is a sense of joy, from us and from our customers, when they discover the many unique products at FAO Schwarz.