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.
The original building, at 200 Fifth Avenue, was constructed on the site of what had been the Fifth Avenue Hotel, which was erected in 1860 and was demolished in 1908.[1] 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.[2][3] 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.[4]
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.[5][6] 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.[5]
As of 1981, the complex covered 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) of leasable space, with its 600 tenants accounting for 95% of toy transactions in the United States that year, amounting to $4 billion.[5] 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.[5]
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,[7] 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.