Fao Schwarz

History

In 1862, four brothers, Frederick, Gustav, Henry, and Richard Schwarz, immigrants to the United States from Germany, opened the Toy Bazaar in Baltimore, Maryland, which became popular for its high-quality goods. The store became a success, and a chain of stores was established in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York. The store’s success was the result of its stock of exquisitely crafted toys, many imported from Europe, which led to continued expansion in the form of a second New York store and a mail order catalog in 1876. Not only was it the world’s largest toy retailer ...