Manhattan Toy represents a distinctive voice in the developmental toy industry, positioning itself as a design-forward manufacturer that elevates childhood play objects to functional art while maintaining rigorous developmental standards for early childhood education. Founded in 1978 in New York City by Francis Goldwyn—grandson of legendary motion picture studio founder Sam Goldwyn—following his departure from a Coopers & Lybrand apprenticeship, the company achieved immediate commercial success with an innovative floppy plush dinosaur that challenged conventional stuffed toy construction through pioneering use of non-traditional fabrics and whimsical body styles that departed from industry norms. This initial success, which propelled sales to $5 million by 1986, established Manhattan Toy's philosophy of creating "classic toys that appeal to both parents and children alike," a dual-audience approach that recognizes toys as both developmental tools for children and aesthetic objects within home environments. The company's commitment to design integrity was famously tested in 1987 when Goldwyn successfully litigated against Gerber Products Company for copyright infringement, securing a six-figure settlement that established important precedent for small toy manufacturers defending intellectual property against larger conglomerates, with Goldwyn's quoted determination that "the puppy dog they kicked, bites" reflecting the company's willingness to defend creative work.
Following changes in ownership, Manhattan Toy relocated from New York to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it has operated for decades under the creative direction of Jeanne Bleu and company leadership including President Nora O'Leary, maintaining its founding commitment to developmental play principles while expanding its portfolio to encompass plush toys, dolls, wooden toys, sensory products, activity centers, puppets, and educational materials across 500+ products designed with extensive trend research into contemporary home aesthetics and parenting preferences including gender-neutral design approaches. The company positions itself as a pioneer of developmental play, focusing on creating toys that provide "the right challenge at the right time" across cognitive, emotional, and social development stages, with the in-house design team—drawing from backgrounds in fashion, illustration, bookmaking, and graphic design rather than traditional toy design—conducting pattern research and maintaining relationships with ICTI-certified manufacturing partners in China, Vietnam, and Thailand to ensure environmental standards, fair employment practices, and workplace safety alongside rigorous testing to international safety standards including CPSIA, ASTM F963, EN71, and Canadian regulations. Distribution encompasses specialty retailers worldwide plus exclusive product lines for Target, Harrods UK, Barnes & Noble, and Anthropologie, with operations based in Minneapolis and Eden Valley, Minnesota for North American distribution alongside a European subsidiary in the United Kingdom. In March 2023, Crown Crafts acquired Manhattan Group, LLC (operating as Manhattan Toy) and its European subsidiary for approximately $24 million in projected annual sales, integrating the developmental toy specialist into Crown Crafts' infant and toddler product portfolio alongside the Sassy toys brand, with the acquisition making toys the largest product category within Crown Crafts at approximately 40% of overall sales while maintaining Manhattan Toy's Minneapolis operations, distribution facilities, and European presence under the Crown Crafts corporate structure.
