F.A.O Schwarz has been, perhaps, the most iconic toy store since 1862. Its ability to depict a world where child-like wonders may come to life drew customers of all ages to its doors. The signature "toy" soldiers that would stand guard upon your arrival never failed to impress. I can remember my first steps walking through the front door of F.A.O Schwarz. It truly was as if I had entered a world unlike any I had ever encountered. Immediately, I was lost in a jungle where a lion and giraffe defied natures' laws and stood together. A trip up the escalator and the jungle became a world of mystics and magic; The kind that pulls bunnies from hats and coins from ears. A look to the left and I saw the stars within reach as astrology and all the other sciences came into play. A glance to the right and the world of Lego had stolen my attention completely as I learned that creativity knows no boundaries. Ah, and who could forget the giant piano where Tom Hanks once played, setting a tradition for the generations to follow. I could babble on and on about the wonders of F.A.O Schwarz, but I don't believe there are enough words in the English dictionary to ever capture its essence. Instead, I choose to focus on a more pressing matter: the relocation of the F.A.O Schwarz of NYC.
I will admit that the store has not jumped very far from its original location, but the move from 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Plaza has certainly made an impact. When F.A.O Schwarz permanently closed on 5th Avenue in 2015, many were hoping that it would one day reopen (preferably where it currently resided). The announcement that F.A.O Schwarz would live again in New York City, only this time at Rockefeller Plaza, brought about many bitter-sweet emotions. Although satisfied with the fact that the legendary toy store has not met its end (and hopefully never will), the memories of its original location on Fifth Avenue will leave some if not all of us with bitter nostalgia. Just as the walls of a childhood home may become stained with memories, so has our Fifth Avenue toy store. It is difficult to imagine F.A.O Schwarz at any other location. It is even more difficult to think that it may not be the same F.A.O Schwarz that we all know and love. The question we have now is, was it the location that brought the magic? Or will F.A.O Schwarz retain its whimsical glow no matter where it is based?
