Manhattan
Let's Get Social!


FAO Schwarz at Rockefeller Center Has Reopened

FAO Schwarz at Rockefeller Center Has Reopened

New York City's beloved toy store is welcoming customers to its Rockefeller Center flagship once again.


New York City’s most beloved toy store, FAO Schwarz, has finally reopened to customers after being closed for months due to COVID-19. The store is implementing extra safety precautions to keep its customers safe including mandatory face masks, sanitation stations, social distancing enforcement in entrances, exits, and throughout the store, and reduced hours and capacity. The stores new hours are 12-6pm Wednesday-Sunday. 

Children and families will feel instantly welcome as soon as they enter the store’s grand doors, finding everything from board games and animals to dolls and STEM products. Many of the store's classic experiences and demonstrations are still available. Here are some of our favorites:

Explore STEM Concepts and Experiments

Note: Image was taken pre-COVID-19.

Visit the Discovery Station to watch science experiments and observe chemical reaction-based experiments. Children can line up and watch a miniature volcano erupt while the scientist explains the entire process! The Discovery Lab demonstrates all the science kits sold at FAO Schwarz, so customers can see exactly what each science kit does. There are different STEM kits for kids to learn about rocks, build rockets, look at interesting slides under a microscope, and more!

 

Visit and Take Home a Transformer 

Image credit: Richard Cadan

The Transformers section of FAO Schwarz has a giant, interactive Optimus Prime, perfect for an Instagrammable moment before your little ones take home their new toy.

 

Build Your Best Friend



Note: Image was taken pre-COVID-19.

FAO Schwarz features its very own Build-a-Bear Workshop for creative young toy makers. Choose who you want your new furry friend to be and then head to the stuffing station. Once your new lovie is built, you can choose clothing, accessories, and furniture at the dressing station! These customizable stuffed animals are a fun experience for any child or a thoughtful gift for a friend.

Recreate the Piano Scene from Big

Note: Image was taken pre-COVID-19.

The beloved giant piano that was in the original location of FAO Schwarz (the one Tom Hanks danced on in Big) made the move to 30 Rock and can be danced on by children and families! Take your shoes off and get in a musical mood. The keys don’t only light up on the floor; they also light up on the ceiling above! This way, onlookers standing in the plaza can look up to see people dancing while the keys light up.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for the Sizeable Centerpieces

The attention to detail in this store is super fun! You’ll find a rocket ship at the top of one staircase, where children and families can step inside and have an out-of-this-world experience. The buttons inside light up and make various otherworldly sound effects. The other staircase in the store features a clock tower, with a winking face and a view of the interior spinning gadgets and widgets of a real tower. Both pieces make for a cool Instagrammable moment

FAO Schwarz also has different sections dedicated to different favorite toys such as Barbie, Transformers, and stuffed animals. You can even buy toy soldier outfits to match your friends outside! The energy in this iconic toy store is perfect for the holiday season and to load up on both timeless and unique items. We’re happy to have it back in NYC!

More Family Activities Articles:

Things to Do with Kids in NYC this Weekend

Enjoy these fun things to do with your kids in New York City this weekend. Start planning your weekend now with our editorially curated list of happen...


Latest News:

Things to Do with Kids on Long Island this Weekend

Enjoy these fun weekend activities with your kids on Long Island. Start planning your weekend now.


Family Activities:



Have a Laugh:

Best Memes of the Week for Parents

Here are the funniest parenting memes from Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit this week.
Megan Vasquez

Author: Megan Vasquez, a junior at New York University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Media, Culture and Communication, is a fall 2018 editorial intern at NYMetroParents. You can find her at the dog park with her chihuahua, making your favorite drinks as a Starbucks barista, or camping along the east coast. See More

Featured Listings:

SPARK

SPARK

New York, New York Today we simply don’t know enough about autism. SPARK— a landmark autism research project — aims to make important progress possible.

Camp Settoga

Camp Settoga

Pomona, Camp Settoga is a day camp located in Pomona, NY for ages 4-12 that combines traditional summer camp experiences with Jewish values, and a dynamic var...

First Presbyterian Church Nursery School

First Presbyterian Church Nursery School

Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NY Founded in 1952, FPCNS welcomes children 2.3 - 5 years old of diverse backgrounds and religions. Curriculum is based on the belief that young children...

ThoughtGallery.org

ThoughtGallery.org

New York, NY ThoughtGallery.org has been created for intellectually curious people who want a single resource to discover activities that pique their interests.