Farewell FAO: Last day of business at Fifth Avenue toy store

He relocated to New York City in 1870, where he opened another store, which according to FAO’s history, was called “Schwarz Brothers – Importers”.

News of the iconic store’s closing in May elicited an outpouring of memories to CNN’s iReport from people who have visited the Fifth Avenue location in the past.

A second store followed six years later, and the two eventually merged under the FAO Schwarz name at a location on New York’s Union Square.

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After more than 150 years FAO Schwarz is closing its doors.

Throughout the years, the 153-year-old store has become embedded in popular culture.

Following the recent announcement of its upcoming closure, thousands of folks have poured through its doors to say good-bye to the store that just didn’t haven enough sales to stay afloat.

But even the staffers at Mary Arnold Toys agreed, it was a sad day toy lovers with the close of FAO Schwarz on Fifth Avenue.

The 1988 film pictured the toy store in a scene in which Bette Midler’s character has a run-in with her sister’s husband and son.

Near the entrance, a large, well-placed sign told passersby the same message – that FAO Schwarz has moved several times since it first opened in Manhattan in 1870. It was bought by Toys “R” Us in 2009.

Children play on The Big Piano at FAO Schwarz in New York.

In May 2015, Bloomberg reported FAO would shut down its flagship location, citing high rents as a major source of trouble. It may reopen at a new location in midtown Manhattan, reports the Associated Press.