Gate-side toy run at Midway’s Main Terminal
FAO Schwarz sits in Chicago Midway’s Main Terminal, past security, and it’s one of the few spots in the airport where kids actually beg to slow down. The store leans into the classic FAO look: big plush animals, branded toys, and lots of bright packaging that’s easy to spot from the concourse.
Pricing runs higher than Target-level toys; expect small branded items around $10–$15 and larger plush or playsets climbing past $40. That said, it’s still cheaper than calming a bored 5‑year‑old with airport snacks every hour. Stock covers babies through roughly age 10, so you can grab a last‑minute birthday gift or something to keep a preschooler busy on a 3‑hour flight.
The shop keeps airport hours, roughly matching Main Terminal traffic from early morning departures through late‑evening Southwest banks. If you’re tight on time, this is a quick in‑and‑out stop: the layout is compact, and most people are in and out in under 5–10 minutes. Staff are used to parents juggling strollers, backpacks, and boarding times, so checkout usually moves fast.
Selection leans heavily on FAO‑branded plush, dolls, and small STEM kits, not big electronics or gaming consoles. Think stuffed animals, puzzles, and arts‑and‑crafts rather than Nintendo Switch gear. If your gate is on the far end of the Main concourse, build in an extra 10 minutes round‑trip to swing by and still make boarding.