Press Release

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2005--The Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW):

-- Meeting includes kick-off of 5th annual Stuffed with Hugs(TM) charity program

-- Stockholders make bears at the Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) On Tour mobile store

The Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) first annual meeting of stockholders as a public company, was held today at the St. Louis Magic House Children's Museum. Founder, Chief Executive Bear and Chairman Maxine Clark, reviewed the company's fiscal 2004 activities and highlighted plans for growth in 2005.

In her remarks to stockholders, Clark stated, "Fiscal 2004 was an outstanding year for Build-A-Bear Workshop(R). We exceeded our revenue and net income targets while continuing to invest in building our brand and raising awareness, and we continued to improve our highly productive and profitable store economic model. 2004 provided a solid foundation for further growth and improvement in the future. Our improvement momentum continued in the first quarter, with a net income increase of 51 percent."

During the meeting, company stockholders elected three Class I directors to serve until the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders. The elected directors include, Maxine Clark, founder, chief executive bear and chairman of the board of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., Mary Lou Fiala, president and chief operating officer Regency Centers Corporation, and Louis Mucci, chief financial officer and director BJ's Restaurants, Inc.

In addition, company stockholders approved the company's performance based annual incentive plan and ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as independent auditors for fiscal 2005.

Build-A-Bear Workshop expects to open 28 to 30 new Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United States and Canada, including a flagship store in New York City, and three new friends 2B made(R) stores in fiscal 2005. International franchisees expect to open 20 to 25 new stores this year. The first store in France is scheduled to open this week in the world famous Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris.

Teddy Bears to Help Children affected by Tsunami

Following the annual meeting, Clark invited stockholders and children visiting the St. Louis Magic House to visit Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) On Tour, the company's mobile store, to launch their national charity program Stuffed with Hugs, Project Bearlift. The bears made were the first of over 40,000 bears to be made this week for this program. With the help of the international relief organization, UNICEF, these special bears will be shared with children in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India who are rebuilding their lives from the Tsunami.

About Stuffed With Hugs(TM)

For the first time in Stuffed with Hugs five year history, the charity event will take place at every Build-A-Bear Workshop store around the world. Stuffed with Hugs was created to give children the chance to help others. On May 14, 2005 the first 200 Guests to visit any Build-A-Bear Workshop store will be invited to participate in Stuffed with Hugs Project Bearlift and make a bear for free. The bears made will be given to UNICEF, who will help distribute the bears to children affected by the Tsunami. In addition, each time a new Build-A-Bear Workshop store opens throughout the year, a Stuffed with Hugs event will be held to benefit children in need. Stuffed with Hugs began in 2001 and since then Build-A-Bear Workshop has donated over 125,000 bears to children through this program.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour

Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour is a 53 foot, bright yellow, mobile store housed in a semi-tractor trailer that expands into an 800 square foot retail store nearly identical to the company's mall based Build-A-Bear Workshop store locations. The On Tour store debuted in February '05 as part of the NFL Experience at Super Bowl XXXIX. Throughout the year, the mobile store has traveled to fairs, sporting and entertainment venues across the country. When visiting Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour, Guests are able to create a special memory with their family and friends as they make their new stuffed animal. To date Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour has traveled over 9,000 miles, operating 55 days at events that had total attendance of over 2 million visitors.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW), with fiscal 2004 total revenue of $302 million, is the only national company that offers Guests an interactive make-your-own-stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. The first store opened in St. Louis in 1997; at the end of 2004 the company operated 170 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United States and Canada. With the opening of its store in Sheffield, England, in the fall of 2003 and the addition of international stores in Japan, Denmark, Australia, South Korea and France, Build-A-Bear Workshop has become the global leader in the teddy bear business. In November 2004, the company opened two friends 2B made(R) stores, the newest concept based on the doll-making experience. For more information about the company and its products, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning web site at www.buildabear.com.

TRADEMARKS

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

Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) is our well-known trade name and our registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Workshop, 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.

CONTACT: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., St. Louis
Investors:
Molly Salky, 314-423-8000 ext.5353
or
Media:
Jill Saunders, 314-423-8000 ext.5293

SOURCE: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.