RIP FAO

The oldest toy retailer in the United States is now down to one store, at the expense of Vegas.
I found out today that the mega toy store FAO Schwarz in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace closed quietly at the end of January, news that will crush the Knightly children. The store's new owners decided not to renew the lease.
It needs to be remembered that FAO was acquired by Toys“R”Us in late May.
The Knightly children - Savannah, Emma and Kairi - visited the store for what turned out to be the last time in August.
I should have known something was wrong because the famous floor piano was gone. The inventory was in such poor shape we asked them at the time if they were going out of business and where told "no."
Knightly children have been going to the store since it opened in late August 1997 as part of the first expansion wing of the Forum Shops (Nathan was 4 at the time, Savannah 3).
Another anchor tenant of that expansion, the Virgin Megastore, closed years ago.
Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys“R”Us said at the time that the company planned to "work tirelessly to preserve the distinctiveness and integrity of the FAO Schwarz stores and brand as we grow the business and, indeed, take the brand to even greater heights.”
Well, so much for that in Vegas.
Following the acquisition, Toys“R”Us said it would continue to operate the two FAO Schwarz retail stores in New York City and the now closed Vegas location, along with the e-commerce and catalog operations.
NYC remains open.
The 56,000-square-foot, three-story store opened with grand dreams. According to a July 18, 1997 Review-Journal article, the store opened with the Star Wars Cantina, miniature recreation of a Roman village, with 80 animated animal creatures, in the shop's front window; a two-story tree, rising 35 feet from the shop's floor, a dinosaur section with animated dinosaurs, a coffee shop featuring Monopoly game decor, a Barbie 'temple' flanked by 6-foot-tall Barbie statues in Roman garb, and a FAO Schweetz area selling candy and sweets.
Practically everything from the opening was seriously downsized through the years, or, as in the case of the cantina, disappeared all together.
Customers like the Knightly's, I admit, might have been part of the problem. We always spent hours in the store, but rarely bought anything greater than some candy or a drink.
FAO has been in operation since 1862.
Sadly, the 46-foot Trojan Horse in front of the store will be removed for a fate unknown.
I will break the news to Emma when I see her Friday.