Ask a New Yorker: How long have you been a toy soldier with F.A.O Schwarz?
Micah: I’ve been a soldier with F.A.O. Schwarz since November 2004 when
they reopened the store.
Ask a New Yorker: What are some of your earliest memories in coming to this
glorious toy store?
Micah: Well, every birthday my grandparents would take us here and then we would
head over to The Plaza for lunch. You remember the movie Home Alone 2 when Macaulay
Culkin went to The Plaza then he came to Dunkin Toy Chest, that was the name
they gave the store in the movie, I was obsessed with that movie. So my grandparents
would take me here and I would pick out my candy or I would pick out a bear.
Sometimes they would surprise me with a pre purchased gift. My favorite gift
was a leather elephant.
Ask a New Yorker: Do you still have the elephant?
Micah: Yes, Mr. Bo Jangles is still on my bed. Mr. Bo Jangles was one of the
more extravagant toys I was given. My first from F.A.O was probably a slinky.
I got a teddy bear when I was a baby. I remember getting key chains and random
outdoor stuff.
Ask a New Yorker: I remember the F.A.O log cabin, a classic. I kept my billy
goat in it for the summer. His name was Cream Puff. Anyways, the log cabin days
are long gone. Can you give us a little history of the store?
Micah: The founder’s name was Frederick August Otto Schwarz and his three
brothers from Westphalia, Germany founded FAO Schwarz more than 145 years ago.
In 1862, the four Schwarz brothers operated their first shop in Baltimore, Maryland.
From there, three of the brothers ventured forth to each open their own Schwarz
“Toy Bazaar” in Philadelphia, Boston and New York. The FAO Schwarz
New York location really was destined to dominate the family business -In 1876,
FAO Schwarz issued its first catalogue for their loyal customers and then in
1880, after ten years on 9th and Broadway, FAO Schwarz moved to larger quarters
in New York’s Union Square, which was then the fashionable shopping hub housing
such stores as Tiffany and other fine retailers.
Ask a New Yorker: Very impressive. So what’s your favorite section of
the store?
Micah: The Plush room. I love stuffed animals.
Ask a New Yorker: I see you do a lot of saluting. What other responsibilities
does a toy soldier have?
Micah: I do tours for the store. I also do events, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs,
and corporate events. I give tours for all types of groups from Australia, Germany,
and Japan. I also do story time along with other soldiers. This is when we read
various stories like Where the Wild Things Are or The Very Hungry Caterpillar,
Good Night Moon, The Run Away Bunny. One of my favorites is called A Terrible,
Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Ask a New Yorker: I’m sure you don’t have many of those (bad days)
at F.A.O. What other movies have been shot here?
Micah: As I mentioned Home Alone 2, For the Love of Money, the movie Big with
Tom Hanks was great and gave us great publicity. That’s the movie where
he danced on our piano upstairs. Of course A Miracle on 42nd Street was another
biggie.
Ask a New Yorker: What’s the biggest stuffed animal in the store?
Micah: It has to be the dragons.
Ask a New Yorker: What’s the most expensive gift in the store?
Micah: That would be our piano. Its $250,000.
Ask a New Yorker: What does a toy soldier do to unwind?
Micah: I love reading. I’m an English Literature major. My mom is a teacher
and I would like to become a teacher as well. I love writing.
Ask a New Yorker: What are you reading now?
Micah: I just finished reading Dead
I Well Maybe. It’s all about the 70’s and 80’s in New
York by Adrian McKinty. I like James Joyce. I like Irish authors. I guess I
could describe myself as a cool soldier nerd. When a customer asks me for a
recommendation for their kids I always tell them to get them a book. Sometimes
they look at me a little strange then I’ll add, ‘get them candy
and a bear, too’.
Ask a New Yorker: I see you have a restaurant in the store.
Micah: Yes, ICP, The Ice Cream Parlor. The Vanilla milkshake is excellent. But,
if you go as a group you must order The Volcano. Its three layers of ice cream,
all kinds of toppings, hot fudge, caramel, butterscotch, melted marshmallows,
rainbow sprinkles, gummy worms. It’s amazing.
Ask a New Yorker: So what’s a toy soldier Halloween costume like?
Micah: Last year I was a pirate. Let’s see…I don’t know. Probably
a pirate again. I’m serious, probably a pirate again.
AskaNewYorker: Thanks for your time. Carry on and have fun!
