Is it true that the Boston FAO Schwartz store will be closing March, 2003? We are visiting in June, so it sounds like that may not be an option for us by then.

Can anyone confirm this?

The Boston-area stores definitely are closing, but I'm not sure of dates. Have you checked the FAO Schwarz web site, or called the store?

I was just in San Francisco and that one is closing. Are they going out of business?

They have been in bankruptcy for a long time.

I thought they were one of Jacko's favorite stores, shocked that they would stay in business on him alone!

They have not been in bankruptcy "for a long time." The Parent Company that owns FAO filed in late January 2003, not because of problems with FAO, per se, but because of problems with its other chains "The Right Start" and "Zany Brainy."

I guess it stands to reason that if daddy can no longer afford the big Mercedes that neither can junior!

Here is a message I received from FOA Schwartz customer service:

"We were in fact planning on closing the Boston store. We have done some
futher restructoring, and are happy to say as of right now the Boston
store will be staying opened.

You may want to call around June to confirm it is still opened.

The number for future reference is 617-262-5900.

Please contact us if we can be of any further assistance. Hope you all
have a fun trip!!!

Sincerely,

FAO Customer Service"

Good news -- today's Boston Globe announced that they are NOT closing the Boston store.

The mayor od Boston has announced that financing restructuring and tax breaks have been worked out to enable this store to stay.