Press Release

Interactive, Entertainment Retailer Opens at Devonshire Mall with Grand Opening Cele-bear-ation

Build-A-Bear Workshop® (NYSE: BBW), Where Best Friends Are Made® — the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience — is opening its beary first location in Windsor at Devonshire Mall on Friday, September 14, 2007.

Founded in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is one of North America's most celebrated retailers for its interactive concept that invites Guests of all ages to make their own customized stuffed animals. The company, celebrating its 10th Birthday in 2007, has more than 290 stores worldwide, including 14 in Canada, and is now opening its 15th Canadian location at Windsor's Devonshire Mall.

“People have been asking me for years how we will maintain our teddy bear culture as we grow,” said Maxine Clark, founder and chief executive bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop. “I think the answer is simple. The language of teddy bears is understood in every country and by all ages. Building on the success of our existing stores in Canada, we are looking forward to spreading teddy bear hugs in Windsor.”

The Grand Opening Cele-bear-ations at Devonshire Mall will kick-off on Friday, September 14 with a beary special ribbon cutting ceremony lead by Bearemy®, Build-A-Bear Workshop mascot and the ambassador of bear hugs and more than 25 children from John Campbell Public School who will help make bears to be donated to the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Foundation — a non-profit foundation dedicated to providing support that contributes to the safety and well-being of the children and families of the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society. On Saturday, September 15, Build-A-Bear Workshop is inviting the first 200 Guests to participate in “Stuffed with Hugs” to make a free bear that will be donated to the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Foundation.

In addition, through First Book/Le Premier Livre, a non-profit organization whose aim is to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books, Scholastic Canada will donate one new book to a local child supported by the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society for every furry friend made at the new Windsor store (up to 1,000).

Where Best Friends Are Made®
Build-A-Bear Workshop® is founded on the premise that nearly everyone, regardless of age, has a special fondness for stuffed animals. At Build-A-Bear Workshop stores, Guests choose their furry friend to make, stuff it just right, and add personality with hundreds of outfits and accessories. The company is also known for the memorable heart ceremony that takes place during the bear-making process. This station allows Guests to choose a red satin heart – a Build-A-Bear Workshop trademark - make a special wish and place it inside their stuffed animal. A wide variety of inventive bear-sized merchandise is also available, including hundreds of coordinating outfits, shoes and boots, officially licensed sports uniforms, and many fashion accessories. There are even miniature pets and pet accessories to complete the pawfect bear family. Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animals range in price from $15 to $36.

Maxine Clark created Build-A-Bear Workshop based on her keen intuition and business savvy. A recognized retail innovator, she spent 20 years with The May Department Stores and then went on to lead Payless ShoeSource achieving the position of number one seller in the world of children's licensed footwear. Ms. Clark understands what families want in a shopping experience, and the store is her response to happy memories of shopping as a child.

“I have always enjoyed window shopping and store displays. Even from a young age it was exciting for me to see all of the beautiful displays in the malls,” says Clark. “At Build-A-Bear Workshop we try to recreate that fun and excitement for Guests of all ages. We enjoy sharing their experience and seeing them smile, and look forward to spreading teddy bear smiles across Canada!”

Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Community
A fundamental principle of Build-A-Bear Workshop is giving back to causes that support children, families and animals. A number of the Build-A-Bear Workshop animals provide Guests the opportunity to support these causes by having a portion of the proceeds of their purchase donated to Canadian charities. Through a unique partnership with the World Wildlife Fund Canada, Build-A-Bear Workshop offers a series of WWF-Canada co-branded plush animals with a portion of the proceeds supporting efforts to protect endangered animals and their habitats. The Bearemy's Kennel Pals® line of plush products raises funds to support local animal shelters and helps animals in crisis situations. Children's literacy is supported through Read Teddy™. Champ, a Champion Fur Kids, supports health and wellness needs of children and their families.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, the company currently operates more than 290 stores in the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom and 15 stores in Canada including four in the Greater Toronto Area, one in Dartmouth, Ottawa, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Windsor, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Victoria and two in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. The addition of franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia make Build-A-Bear Workshop the leader in interactive retail. In November 2004, the company expanded the make-your-own concept from stuffed animals to dolls with the opening of its first friends 2B made® stores, where Guests can make their own doll friends. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $437 million in fiscal 2006. For more information, call 1-888-560-BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning Web sites at www.buildabear.com and www.friends2bmade.com.

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Build-A-Bear Workshop spokesperson, please contact Sara Beckford or David Weinstein at Strategic Objectives Tel: (416) 366-7735; Fax: (416) 366-2295; Email: sbeckford@strategicobjectives.com.

TRADEMARKS
As you write your story, we would ask that you use the full Name: Build-A-Bear Workshop® and that when referencing the process of making stuffed animals, you use the word “make” not “build.”

Build-A-Bear Workshop is the trade name and the registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc. Build-A-Bear Workshop® should only be used in capital letters to refer to its products and services and should not be used as a verb.