Zany Brainy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zany Brainy was a United States retail store chain that sold educational toys and multi-media products aimed at children ages 4-12. Its merchandise included games and puzzles; infant development toys; books, audiocassettes, and videos; arts and crafts; building toys and trains; computer software; electronic learning aids and musical instruments; science toys; plush toys and dolls; and sports-themed toys. The stores offered daily events such as workshops, concerts, and author appearances.
David Schlessinger, who had earlier started the now-defunct Encore Books chain of bookstores, founded Zany Brainy in 1991. The company's CEO was Thomas Vellios. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 15, 2001, having faced financial difficulties since acquiring rival company Noodle Kidoodle in 2000. Later in 2001, Zany Brainy's assets were sold to Right Start, Inc. At the time of the sale, Zany Brainy had 187 retail locations nationwide.
In January 2002, The Right Start, Inc. purchased approximately 20 of the famed FAO Schwarz toy stores. Together, the Zany Brainy, Right Start and FAO stores were brought under one corporate umbrella named FAO, Inc. Jerry Welch, the former CEO of The Right Start, Inc. assumed the CEO role for the entire retail chain. After this move the chain included some 250 stores and was bringing in nearly $400 million in annualized revenue.
In January 2003 FAO, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. After emerging from bankruptcy in April 2003, the company filed yet again in December 2003. All of the Zany Brainy stores were shuttered. The Right Start chain was sold and all but two FAO Schwarz stores were closed. Today, the name Zany Brainy, once a respected moniker with "a zillion neat things for kids" is but a memory. David Schlessinger and Tom Vellios have gone on and found another successful retail chain (Five Below), and Jerry Welch has entered relative obscurity.
