FAO Schwarz is opening a new store in Dallas on August 21. Here’s everything you need to know about NorthPark Center’s latest addition.
If you’ve seen the Tom Hanks movie “Big,” or if you’ve just skulked around the internet over the last few decades, you’re familiar with the scene of him dancing on a giant piano in the middle of a toy store. Well, that store is New York City’s famous FAO Schwarz, and the beloved toy sellers are officially setting up shop at NorthPark Center in Dallas.
While it’ll be a much smaller floor plan than its Manhattan counterpart, this new FAO Schwarz will be equally magical and exciting for children and parents alike. Merchandise will be available at “The Jewel Box” set up inside Nordstrom, which is basically a small-scale version of what the flagship store looks like. Want to take a sneak peek at the layout? Click here to look through official pictures of Dallas’s newly minted Jewel Box.
Included in the space will be interactive experiences and displays, as well as live toy demonstrations and a wide selection of dolls, toys, and other FAO Schwarz-branded items available for purchase. Specific brands, like Bunnies by the Bay, Brio, and Dejeco, will also be sold at the 8687 N. Central Expressway location.
To celebrate the opening, FAO Schwarz is holding a customer event on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that will feature entertainment, interactive activities, family-friendly snacks, and more.
Nordstrom and FAO Schwarz have partnered to make shopping more convenient for Dallas families
Tracey Powers, who is the general merchandise manager and executive vice president for home, kids, and shoes at Nordstrom, spoke about the partnership between the department store and FAO Schwarz. Powers said, “FAO Schwarz represents imagination and joyful discovery, which aligns naturally with how we think about creating meaningful experiences for our customers. By partnering with a retailer that shares our vision for thoughtful curation and immersive retail moments, we’re able to create something truly special – inviting customers of all ages to engage, explore and experience the joy of shopping.”
David Niggli, the chief merchandising officer for FAO Schwarz, expressed similar sentiments in a release announcing the new Dallas location. Niggli wrote, “Nordstrom is a perfect partner for FAO Schwarz, with its long tradition of beautiful stores, unique and quality products, and its commitment to the best in customer service. By bringing our two iconic brands together, we’re creating an engaging experience where shopping becomes playful and full of wonder, while sharing our exclusive products, collaborations, and retail theater through immersive demonstrations and experiences with Nordstrom customers.”
It’s unclear as to whether the Dallas location will feature these exact interactive experiences, but other FAO Schwarz stores offer the following (just to give you an idea of what may be on offer):
- FAO Doll – Choose a baby doll, swaddle, and birth certificate to bring home
- Brio Personalization Station – Featuring a Brio train collection complete with hands-on customization and play options
- FAO Beauty – Customizable, build your own makeup kits
- FAO-Abulous – Design, create, and accessorize custom handbags
