Younkers adds iconic FAO Schwarz toy store including famous piano mat

Younkers department stores have added small store-within-a-stores from famed toy retailer FAO Schwarz. 

The new toy sections opened last weekend in Younkers at Jordan Creek Town Center and Valley West Mall, both in West Des Moines, and in Merle Hay Mall and Southridge Mall, both in Des Moines. The toy sections vary in size from 500 square feet in the larger stores — Jordan Creek and Valley West — to 330 square feet in Merle Hay and just 175 square feet in Southridge.

All of the stores carry FAO Schwarz signature toys including a piano dance mat made famous in the Tom Hanks movie “Big” in 1988, plush stuffed animals, train sets, remote-controlled bumper cars, drones, microphones, giant coloring books, magic sets, a build-you-own roller coaster set and other toys. The prices range from $20 to $1,000, with most of the toys between $40 and $160, according to the company.

Rideable cars are available at all but Southridge, the company said.

Younkers parent company Bon-Ton Stores Inc. has put the FAO Schwarz stores in 186 of its department stores that carry the nameplate Younkers, Bon-Ton, Boston Store, Bergner’s, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman and Herberger's.

The pop-up shops are in time for holiday shopping, which is retail’s most important sales season. The toys also are available on the Younker’s website. 

FAO Schwarz was founded 155 years ago and its iconic New York City store closed in 2015. The toy store has created other in-store partnerships.