Toy Center
Encyclopedia
The Toy Center, also known as the International Toy Center, is a complex of buildings in the New York City
borough
of Manhattan
that for many years has been a hub for toy manufacturers and distributors in the United States
. It consists of two buildings located between 23rd Street
and 25th Street at Madison Square
, where Fifth Avenue and Broadway
cross. The American International Toy Fair
, the industry's major annual trade show, has been held annually in February at both the Toy Center and the Jacob Javits Convention Center on 34th Street
.
, which was erected in 1860 and was demolished in 1908. The 16-story building was completed in 1909 and was originally known as the Fifth Avenue Building, which name is on the landmark clock outside the front entrance, and the interlocked initials "F.A.B." were still in the building's elevators as of 2003. The architect was Robert Maynicke
. Its ornate cast-iron sidewalk clock built by Hecla Iron Works in 1909 was designated a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1981.
The building became a center for the toy industry during World War I
, following restrictions on imports from the traditional European manufacturers. A second 16-story building, at 1107 Broadway
was acquired in 1967, and a pedestrian bridge over 24th Street connecting the two buildings at the ninth floor was constructed in 1968. Most of the industry's major companies had moved in by World War II
, and building manager Helmsley-Spear restricted new leases exclusively to toy companies starting in the 1960s.
As of 1981, the complex covered 1000000 square feet (92,903 m²) of leasable space, with its 600 tenants accounting for 95% of toy transactions in the United States that year, amounting to $4 billion. The American International Toy Fair, held jointly at the Toy Center and at the Jacob Javits Convention Center each February, brings as many as 10,000 buyers from the United States and around the world.
In early 2005 the building complex was sold by the Malkin family for $355 million to the Chetrit Group, which was expected to convert the buildings into residential condominium units, but legal issues and tenant headaches caused Joseph Chetrit to sell. The building is being renovated and will remain commercial. The Toy Manufactures Association tried to find a replacement location for the toy showrooms, but a majority of the companies could not agree on a new site. Currently there is no permanent toy showroom in New York, and the only venue for toy buyers is the Toy Fair trade show held mid February in the Javits Center.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
that for many years has been a hub for toy manufacturers and distributors in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It consists of two buildings located between 23rd Street
23rd Street (Manhattan)
23rd Street is a broad thoroughfare in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is one of few two-way streets in the gridiron of the borough. As with Manhattan's other "crosstown" streets, it is divided at Fifth Avenue, in this case at Madison Square Park, into its east and west sections. Since...
and 25th Street at Madison Square
Madison Square
Madison Square is formed by the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The square was named for James Madison, fourth President of the United States and the principal author of the United States Constitution.The focus of the square is...
, where Fifth Avenue and Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
cross. The American International Toy Fair
American International Toy Fair
The American International Toy Fair is one of a few major toy industry trade shows held around the world. It is held annually in mid February in New York City's Toy Center, located at 23rd Street at the crossover of Fifth Avenue and Broadway and at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and is...
, the industry's major annual trade show, has been held annually in February at both the Toy Center and the Jacob Javits Convention Center on 34th Street
34th Street (Manhattan)
34th Street is a major cross-town street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, connecting the Lincoln Tunnel and Queens-Midtown Tunnel. Like many of New York City's major crosstown streets, it has its own bus routes and four subway stops serving the trains at Eighth Avenue, the trains at...
.
History
The original building, at 200 Fifth Avenue, was constructed on the site of what had been the Fifth Avenue HotelFifth Avenue Hotel
The Fifth Avenue Hotel was a former luxury hotel located at 200 Fifth Avenue in New York City, New York from 1859 to 1908. It occupied the full Fifth Avenue frontage between 23rd Street and 24th Street, at the southwest corner of Madison Square in the borough of Manhattan.- Site and construction...
, which was erected in 1860 and was demolished in 1908. The 16-story building was completed in 1909 and was originally known as the Fifth Avenue Building, which name is on the landmark clock outside the front entrance, and the interlocked initials "F.A.B." were still in the building's elevators as of 2003. The architect was Robert Maynicke
Robert Maynicke
Robert Maynicke was an American architect. The New York Times called him "a pioneer in the building of modern loft buildings."...
. Its ornate cast-iron sidewalk clock built by Hecla Iron Works in 1909 was designated a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1981.
The building became a center for the toy industry during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, following restrictions on imports from the traditional European manufacturers. A second 16-story building, at 1107 Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
was acquired in 1967, and a pedestrian bridge over 24th Street connecting the two buildings at the ninth floor was constructed in 1968. Most of the industry's major companies had moved in by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and building manager Helmsley-Spear restricted new leases exclusively to toy companies starting in the 1960s.
As of 1981, the complex covered 1000000 square feet (92,903 m²) of leasable space, with its 600 tenants accounting for 95% of toy transactions in the United States that year, amounting to $4 billion. The American International Toy Fair, held jointly at the Toy Center and at the Jacob Javits Convention Center each February, brings as many as 10,000 buyers from the United States and around the world.
In early 2005 the building complex was sold by the Malkin family for $355 million to the Chetrit Group, which was expected to convert the buildings into residential condominium units, but legal issues and tenant headaches caused Joseph Chetrit to sell. The building is being renovated and will remain commercial. The Toy Manufactures Association tried to find a replacement location for the toy showrooms, but a majority of the companies could not agree on a new site. Currently there is no permanent toy showroom in New York, and the only venue for toy buyers is the Toy Fair trade show held mid February in the Javits Center.