FAO Schwarz to close

Murt10

I'm gutted. One of the main highlights of New York.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/nyregion/goodbye-fao-schwarz-toy-lovers-prepare-for-stores-closing.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0

Did the piano thing. Meh.

Was more taken by Hamleys in London. I guess more iconic on this side of the ocean.

The J Stands for Jay

I wasn't impressed by the place, and then they opened toys r us in times square which was far more impressive.

Tyrannosaurus rex in Toys R Us, New York

CardBordWindow

Ah crap! I'm heading to New York in October.
I can knock FAO off of the list of things to go see so!

LeeJM

As said above wasnt impressed at all. Toys R US in Times Square is definitely more of an attraction now. Not surprised its closing

Menas

Yeah, one of those over hyped places to visit...but a big let down and a waste of an hour of Manhattan touristing for me.
Sad when these shops just cant keep themselves relevant.

Tordelback

LeeJM wrote: »

As said above wasnt impressed at all. Toys R US in Times Square is definitely more of an attraction now. Not surprised its closing

Sad to hear this - only been in NYC once, way back in 1999, but a visit to FAO Schwarz was a big deal then - best memory is the bargain basement section full of impossible-to-find-at-home pre-Phantom Menace Star Wars figures!

Hamleys in London has gone to seed and struggles to fill its floorspace, with the exception of its movie-prop replica section which is amazing.

Hermy

Life must be good when your only concern is the closure of a toy shop 5,000 kilometres away!

Conor Bourke

Aw, I liked it but then I was a teenager when I visited. Loved the Big piano. Shame

scdublin

I loved it! So nice to go strolling around looking at all the toys I wanted as a kid/still kind of want. They had loads of cool sweets too!

Guy:Incognito

Hermy wrote: »

Life must be good when your only concern is the closure of a toy shop 5,000 kilometres away!

Could be worse. Your only concern could be bring concerned about what others have to be concerned about.

Lollipops23

Did the Big piano when I was there, kind of underwhelming tbh.

Was far more taken by the Disney art gallery- the stuff was insane and I fell in love with several pieces. All were $700 +

chopperbyrne

McGaggs wrote: »

I wasn't impressed by the place, and then they opened toys r us in times square which was far more impressive.

Tyrannosaurus rex in Toys R Us, New York

LeeJM wrote: »

As said above wasnt impressed at all. Toys R US in Times Square is definitely more of an attraction now. Not surprised its closing

It too, is closing: http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/18/news/companies/toys-r-us-times-square-store-flagship/

Summer wind

I love those big toy shops. I'm nearly 40 but always feel about 8 walking around looking at all the lovely toys:)

Egginacup

Murt10 wrote: »

I'm gutted. One of the main highlights of New York.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/nyregion/goodbye-fao-schwarz-toy-lovers-prepare-for-stores-closing.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0

New York isn't the same place it was when I lived there. Smoking ban destroyed the dingy wiseguy bars where you'd expect to see De Niro plotting with Liotta, Gary Oldman punching up some sap or Kevin Bacon getting blasted. Place is just so sterile now. Meat-packing district used to be a great spot (Hogs and Heifers). Upper Eastside is just plain boring. It's all gentrified.

Now it's just a place for the mega-rich, and tourists getting shepherded around the "sights".

Used to sit drinking cans outside down by Delancey Street. If a cop came by he'd either ignore you, or say "Finish 'em up guys or bin 'em. Open container!". Now you'd get arrested.

As for FAO.....well, I'd say more people just visited the store than bought anything. The rich don't need to buy there for their brats any more. Now they buy miniature, fully functional, diamond encrusted bentleys for their pups online.

BlaasForRafa

chopperbyrne wrote: »

It too, is closing: http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/18/news/companies/toys-r-us-times-square-store-flagship/

As long as the M&M Store ain't closing it's ok!

cena

Its a good store to see first time. Toys r us doesn't really do it for me. Went in looking power ranger toys that where released not a one in the place.

Cousin works in the building on top of f.a.o. more impressed with the view from the building.

cena

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

As long as the M&M Store ain't closing it's ok!

I spent a $100 on candy my first time there. All m&m the loose kind that you full a bag with