Press Release

St. Louis, Missouri – August 12, 2004 – Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. today announced that it has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The securities to be offered in the proposed IPO will include shares to be issued and sold by the company as well as shares to be sold by certain stockholders.

Credit Suisse First Boston and Citigroup will act as joint book-running managers in the common stock offering, and the co-managers are JP Morgan, A.G. Edwards and Thomas Weisel Partners LLC. Copies of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained from Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Prospectus Department, One Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010 (Telephone No. 212-325-2000) and Citigroup, Global Markets Inc. Prospectus Department, Brooklyn Army Terminal, 5th Floor, 140 58th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11220 (Telephone No. 212-325-2580).

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop:

Build-A-Bear Workshop is an interactive, entertainment mall-based retailer that invites Guests of all ages to create their own customized stuffed animals through a multi-step bear-making process. The first store opened in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1997. As of July 3, 2004 the Company operated 157 stores in 37 states and Canada and had five franchised stores internationally under the Build-A-Bear Workshop brand. For more information on the company and its products visit the company's website at http://www.buildabear.com.