Press Release

ST. LOUIS, Jun 09, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Build-A-Bear Workshop(R), the interactive entertainment retailer of customized stuffed animals, announced initiatives today to provide support to the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program (LMMSTRP) within Audubon Nature Institute to help marine mammals affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is contributing $5,000 to Audubon Nature Institute to aid the organization's efforts of helping marine mammals affected by the spill. Additionally, between June 8 and June 27, Guests are invited to help support this cause by making a $1 donation at checkout registers in any Build-A-Bear Workshop retail location in the United States.

"In just over a month marine life has been greatly affected by the oil spill," said Laurie Conkerton, senior vice president for development of Audubon Nature Institute. "We are grateful that Build-A-Bear Workshop and their Guests are helping to provide much needed relief to these animals in the Gulf of Mexico."

Coordinated by Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, LMMSTRP is the primary responder for the state of Louisiana for rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine mammals (dolphins, whales and manatees) and sea turtles. Audubon and LMMSTRP are collaborating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that they have the most up to date information about the direction of the oil spill and any possible animals in its path. When a call comes in for a distressed sea turtle or marine mammal, the Audubon team will retrieve the animal and bring it back to Audubon Aquatic Center for assessment and treatment. It is anticipated that the greatest number of animals affected will be sea turtles, such as the Kemp's Ridley species which is currently migrating to the beaches of Mexico to nest.

Build-A-Bear Workshop believes in the teddy bear philosophy of being good people and good bears. Throughout its 13 year history, the company has shared the hug of a teddy bear wherever needed in local communities and abroad. Build-A-Bear Workshop has given Guests a voice in supporting the causes that are important to them and through its corporate donations and foundation grant programs, has given more than $25 million to children's health and wellness, animals, literacy and other important causes.

"Build-A-Bear Workshop is dedicated to supporting animal welfare, rescue and rehabilitation causes and strives to provide Guests with opportunities to assist causes that are important to them," said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and chief executive bear. "By working together with our Guests, we all have an opportunity to help save these animals."

About Audubon Nature Institute

Audubon Nature Institute is a New Orleans based not-for-profit which operates Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Park, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Entergy IMAX(R) Theatre, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Wilderness Park, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species and Audubon Insectarium.

To learn more about Audubon Nature Institute, please visit: www.auduboninstitute.org

or to donate, please visit: http://www.auduboninstitute.org/oil-spill-rescue-fund

About Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. The company currently operates more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is the leader in interactive retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League Baseball^{(R) )} mascot in-stadium locations, and Build-A-Dino^((R)stores. Build-A-Bear Workshop extends its in-store interactive experience online with its award winning virtual world Web site at buildabearville.com^(R). The company was named to the 2009 and 2010 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For^(R)lists. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $394.4 million in fiscal 2009. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning Web site at buildabear.com^(R).

TRADEMARKS

We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business. As you write your story, we wouldask that you use our full Name: Build-A-Bear Workshop^(R)and that when referencing the processof making stuffed animals you use the word "make" not "build."

Build-A-Bear Workshop is our well-known trade name and our registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc.Build-A-Bear Workshop^(R)should only be used in capital letters to refer to our products and services and should not be used as a verb.

SOURCE: Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear Workshop
Jill Saunders, 314-423-8000, ext. 5293 or 314-422-4523 (cell)
jills@buildabear.com
or
Shannon Lammert, 314-423-8000, ext. 5379 or 314-556-8841 (cell)
shannonl@buildabear.com