Destination and specialty Build-A-Bear locations

Build-A-Bear Workshop operates several locations, store formats, and other themed experiences that operate outside the company’s traditional retail stores. These have included partnerships with resorts, cruise lines, theme parks, sports venues, restaurants, tourist attractions, and other entertainment destinations.[1][2]

Specialty workshops

Build-A-Bear has introduced a number of specialty workshop formats through partnerships with attractions, entertainment venues, sports organizations, restaurants, retailers, and licensed properties.

Friends 2B Made

Friends 2B Made[3] was an interactive retail concept introduced by Build-A-Bear Workshop in 2005 that allowed customers to create dolls and purchase related clothing and accessories. At its peak, the concept operated in nine standalone stores and in dedicated sections within dozens of Build-A-Bear locations. Customers could personalize dolls with a variety of fashions, accessories, and other customizable features. Unlike Build-A-Bear Workshop's traditional Stuffed animal animal line, Friends 2B Made focused on dolls and fashion-themed play experiences aimed at older children.[4]

The concept was discontinued in 2009, with standalone stores either closing or being converted into Build-A-Bear Workshop locations.

Build-A-Dino

Build-A-Dino[5] is a Build-A-Bear Workshop concept that allows customers to create stuffed dinosaurs and purchase themed accessories.

The first Build-A-Dino location opened inside the T-Rex Café in Kansas City, Missouri, as part of a partnership with Landry's Restaurants. A temporary standalone location later operated at Chesterfield Mall in Chesterfield, Missouri, before being relocated to the St. Louis Science Center.

Additional Build-A-Dino locations were opened inside T-Rex Café restaurants, including a location at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World. Build-A-Dino sections have also operated within selected Build-A-Bear Workshop stores. Build-A-Dino locations offer dinosaur-themed plush toys known as "Friendosaurs", which can be customized with clothing, accessories, sounds, and recorded messages.[6]

Make Your Own Mascot

The "Make Your Own Phanatic" shop at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, now closed.

Build-A-Bear Workshop opened a series of "Make Your Own Mascot" locations featuring professional sports Sports mascots and related merchandise.

Locations operated at several Major League Baseball venues, including Progressive Field, Great American Ball Park, AT&T Park, Nationals Park, and Busch Stadium. Similar mascot-themed offerings were also available for characters such as Wally the Green Monster and Mr. Met.[7] The concept expanded through partnerships with Major League Baseball teams and featured team-specific bears, mascots, clothing, accessories, and other licensed merchandise sold at participating stadium locations.[8][9]

Build-A-Bear Workshop At Sea

Build-A-Bear Workshop At Sea is an onboard attraction offered on Carnival Cruise Line ships. The program was introduced in 2016 through a partnership between Build-A-Bear Workshop and Carnival Cruise Line.[10]

Guests can create and customize stuffed animals during scheduled onboard events. The experience includes a Carnival-exclusive bear design and a St. Jude Bear, with proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[11]

Kiosks

Build-A-Bear Workshop has operated kiosk-format locations in shopping malls in addition to its traditional stores. These smaller locations offer the company's stuffed-animal customization experience in a reduced retail footprint.[12]

Hello Kitty & Friends Workshop

In November 2024, Build-A-Bear Workshop and Sanrio opened the first Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles, California.[13]

The store features Sanrio-themed merchandise and experiences centered on characters including Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, and My Melody.[14]

In December 2025, Build-A-Bear announced plans to expand the concept with additional locations at American Dream in New Jersey and Mall Mall of America in Minnesota.[15]

Retail partnerships

Build-A-Bear Workshop has operated locations through partnerships with a variety of retailers. These locations are typically situated within existing retail stores and offer the company's traditional make-your-own stuffed animal experience in a shop-in-shop format.

Build-A-Bear at Walmart

Build-A-Bear operated temporary pop-up Workshop locations inside Walmart stores during the 2018 and 2019 Holiday seasons. The program began with six pilot locations in 2018 and expanded to 25 stores in 2019.[16] The pop-up Workshops were discontinued after the seasonal test concluded, and no permanent Build-A-Bear Workshop locations remained inside Walmart stores after 2019.

FAO Schwarz

Build-A-Bear operates a location within the FAO Schwarz flagship stores in New York City and United Kingdom. The location opened as part of Build-A-Bear’s expansion into destination-based and tourist-focused venues. Build-A-Bear announced that the FAO Schwarz location would offer exclusive FAO Schwarz plush products and themed accessories in addition to the company’s traditional experience.[1]

Hamleys

Build-A-Bear Workshop has operated locations within selected Hamleys toy stores in the United Kingdom through a retail partnership with the retailer. Locations have included Hamleys of London on Regent Street , Hamleys Westfield in London, and Hamleys St Enoch in Glasgow.[17]

Selfridges

Build-A-Bear Workshop has operated locations within Selfridges department stores in the United Kingdom as part of the company's expansion through retail partnerships. Build-A-Bear locations have been listed at Selfridges stores in London and Birmingham, allowing customers to participate in the company's traditional make-your-own stuffed animal experience within existing Selfridges retail locations.[18]

ToySmart

Build-A-Bear operates a partner-operated location within a ToySmart store in Bogotá, Colombia. The store is operated under Build-A-Bear's international partner model, in which locations are managed by third-party retailers rather than directly by the company. According to Build-A-Bear location information, the Bogotá location is operated within an existing ToySmart retail store rather than as a standalone Build-A-Bear Workshop.[19]

Destination locations

Build-A-Bear Workshop has expanded beyond traditional retail stores through locations at resorts, amusement parks, entertainment complexes, and tourist destinations.[1]

Great Wolf Lodge

Build-A-Bear Workshop locations operate at several Great Wolf Lodge Resorts These locations offer Great Wolf Lodge-themed merchandise and plush characters based on the resort's Great Wolf Pack characters, including Wiley Wolf, Violet Wolf, Brinley Bear, Sammy Squirrel, Oliver Raccoon, and Rachel Raccoon. Great Wolf Lodge locations were among a number of destination-based Build-A-Bear locations opened as part of the company's expansion into entertainment and tourism venues.[20][1]

Kalahari Resorts

Build-A-Bear Workshop operates locations at selected Kalahari Resorts properties as part of the company’s expansion into destination and entertainment venues. Kalahari locations are among a number of resort-based Build-A-Bear destinations developed outside the company’s traditional retail store model.[1]

Tivoli Gardens

Build-A-Bear Workshop previously operated a location within Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. The location was one of the company's amusement park partnerships outside North America.[21]

Cedar Fair parks

Build-A-Bear Workshop has operated locations at several Cedar Fair Amusement Parks, including Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Kings Dominion. In announcing the opening of a Cedar Point location in 2022, Build-A-Bear described the store as the fourth Build-A-Bear Workshop within a Cedar Fair amusement park property.[2]

Knott's Berry Farm

Build-A-Bear Workshop opened a location at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Parkk, California, on January 28, 2020.[22] The store is located in the California Marketplace area of the park, behind Virginia's Gift Shop and Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

To reflect Knott's western theme, the location debuted with exclusive cowboy-, cowgirl-, and train conductor-themed bears. The store also offers limited-edition merchandise tied to Knott's Berry Farm's seasonal events.

Six Flags parks

Build-A-Bear Workshop has also operated locations at selected Six Flags Parks as part of its expansion into amusement park destinations. These locations extended the company’s presence in the regional theme park industry alongside its locations at Cedar Fair Parks.[1]

Build-A-Bear Workshop at SeaWorld

Build-A-Bear Workshop operates a location at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida. The location opened in 2021 and is situated in the park's Key West area. In addition to the company's traditional make-your-own stuffed animal experience, the workshop offers SeaWorld-exclusive with clothing, accessories, and other merchandise themed to the park.[23][24][25]

The Island in Pigeon Forge

Build-A-Bear operates a location at The Island in Pigeon Forge, an entertainment complex in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.[26]

Wisconsin Dells

Build-A-Bear operates a location at Outlets at the Dells in Baraboo, Wisconsin, serving the Wisconsin Dells tourism region. The location offers the company’s traditional make-your-own stuffed animal experience and is marketed as a destination workshop for visitors to the area.[27]

Myrtle Beach

Build-A-Bear operates a location at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The location offers the company’s traditional make-your-own stuffed animal experience and is situated within one of Myrtle Beach’s largest entertainment and tourist destinations.[28]

Broadway at the Beach describes the location as an interactive attraction where guests create and personalize stuffed animals with clothing, accessories, sounds, and other customization options.[29]

Build-A-Bear Adventure

Build-A-Bear Adventure is an entertainment venue operated by Build-A-Bear Workshop in Chesterfield, Missouri. Opened in 2022, the facility combines a Build-A-Bear Workshop with party rooms, arcade games, selfie room, and other family attractions.[30][31]

The venue also includes the Build-A-Bear Bakeshop, which offers cupcake-decorating activities and baking-themed programs for children.[32]

ICON Park

Build-A-Bear operates a location at ICON Park on International Drive in Orlando, Florida. The location offers the company’s traditional make-your-own stuffed animal experience and serves visitors to one of Orlando’s major entertainment and tourism destinations. [33]

In 2025, Build-A-Bear announced plans to expand its presence at ICON Park with a multi-level retail experience scheduled to open in 2026.[34]

Bavarian Inn

Build-A-Bear Workshop opened a location at Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth, Michigan, on July 17, 2024. The location was introduced as part of the resort’s family entertainment offerings and waterpark expansion project.[35]

The workshop is located within the Bavarian Inn Lodge Family Fun Center and offers the company’s traditional make-your-own stuffed animal experience, including the Heart Ceremony.[36]

Gaylord Resorts

In 2018, Build-A-Bear announced plans to open permanent locations at Gaylord Hotels properties as part of its expansion into family-friendly destinations.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP ANNOUNCES NEW SEASONAL POP-UP SHOPS AND NEW PERMANENT STORES INSIDE POPULAR, FAMILY-FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS" (PDF). Build-A-Bear Workshop. Build-A-Bear Workshop. October 30, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP OPENS NEW LOCATION AT CEDAR POINT" (PDF). Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Friends 2B Made". Friends 2B Made. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Friends 2B Made". Yenra. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Build-A-Dino". Build-A-Dino. Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Build-A-Dino® by Build-A-Bear Workshop® at T-REX™". Disney Springs. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  7. ↑ Jones, Juston (August 29, 2008). "Building a Young Audience at Ballparks". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop Make-Your-Own MLB Mascot". Raving Toy Maniac. April 1, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Adds New MLB Mascots". Raving Toy Maniac. March 21, 2006. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Build A Bear Workshop at Sea on Carnival Cruise Line". Journeys with Jenn. July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop At Sea". Carnival Cruise Line. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Kiosk Valley River Mall, Eugene, OR". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Build-A-Bear and Hello Kitty Team Up in Los Angeles for First-Ever Collaborative Workshop". PR Newswire. November 7, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty & Friends Workshop - Los Angeles". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Build-A-Bear x Hello Kitty and Friends Workshop Expands Nationally with New Locations at American Dream and Mall of America". PR Newswire. December 4, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ Fernandez, Henry (June 3, 2019). "Build-A-Bear and Walmart team up, fending off retail apocalypse". FOXBusiness. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Store Locator Sitemap". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Store Locator Sitemap". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Bears around the world". The Build-A-Bear Wiki. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop At Great Wolf Lodge: Prices + Options". Savvy Mama Lifestyle. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Bears around the world". The Build-A-Bear Wiki. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  22. ↑ Tuttle, Brittani (January 3, 2020). "Build-A-Bear Workshop to open at Knott's Berry Farm". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop opens at SeaWorld Orlando". Inside Universal. July 3, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop - SeaWorld Orlando". Parks Magic. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  25. ↑ "SeaWorld Orlando Souvenirs – SeaWorld Gift Shop". SeaWorld Orlando. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop® at The Island in Pigeon Forge". The Island in Pigeon Forge. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Build-A-Bear® Outlets at the Dells – Baraboo, WI". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Build-A-Bear® Broadway at the Beach – Myrtle Beach, SC". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop". Broadway at the Beach. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Adventure Is the Ultimate Party Place in St. Louis, Missouri!". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  31. ↑ "First of its kind Build-A-Bear Adventure opens in Chesterfield this month". Fox 2 News St. Louis. March 7, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Adventure Is the Ultimate Party Place in St. Louis, Missouri!". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Build-A-Bear® Icon Park – Orlando, FL". Build-A-Bear Workshop. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Plans for Multi-Level Retail Experience in Orlando, Florida". ICON Park l. March 13, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Build-A-Bear Workshop coming to Frankenmuth". Mid-Michigan NOW. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Guest Experiences". Bavarian Inn. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
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