Hudson Group and its partners, including ThreeSixty Brands, are bringing a bit of New York to Midway International (MDW) with the opening of the FAO Schwartz in the A Concourse.
The store, the first FAO Schwartz outside of the New York area, features the brand’s iconic toy soldiers, bright signature logo, large toy displays, classic Christmas ornaments and piano keyed flooring, all aimed at kids of all ages.
“The addition of FAO Schwarz expands options for families, and is one of 70 reasons kids of all ages can look forward to shopping and dining at Midway,” says Jamie Rhee, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA). “Through our concessions modernization program, we will deliver the first new brands to Midway in over 20 years, providing an elevated, streamlined experience for travelers and families.”
This FAO Schwarz shop marks the 13th new addition to arrive at Midway as part of the three-year, $75 million makeover by the CDA and Midway Partnership, a joint venture comprised of Hudson Group, Vantage Airport Group and SSP America. Included in the upgrades is a new 15,000 square-foot food hall featuring a number of new airport food concepts such as Arami Sushi, Billy Goat Tavern, Nuts on Clark, Reilly’s Daughter and Woodgrain Neapolitan Pizzeria.
“Hudson Group is committed to delivering exceptional, one-of-a-kind experiences to our guests here in Chicago and throughout North America,” says Evan Schut, Hudson Group senior vp of Operations. “FAO Schwarz is an iconic brand with exciting shopping for adults and children alike, and we could not be more proud to open new FAO stores as an expansion of our current portfolio.”
