Press Release

-- Centrally located center becomes primary distribution center for North American store operations.

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2006--Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW), an interactive entertainment retailer of customized stuffed animals, today announced the opening of a new distribution center in Groveport, Ohio. The new location will serve as the primary distribution center for the company's North America store operations.

"Future growth of our business was the driving force behind this new facility," said Barry Erdos, president and chief operating officer bear. "This new state-of-the-art distribution center will allow us to not only improve inventory control and management, realize greater efficiencies and reduce operating costs, but also has been designed to accommodate projected growth well into the future. From start to finish the project has remained on-schedule; we are fully staffed and the transition to full operation has gone smoothly."

The new distribution center is in the Groveport Commerce Center located approximately 10 miles southeast of downtown Columbus. The distribution center will employ approximately 100 associates. The company's capital expenditures associated with the new distribution center totaled approximately $24 million.

Build-A-Bear Workshop previously utilized three distribution centers operated by third-party providers. These centers were located in St. Louis, Toronto, Canada and Los Angeles. The company will continue to utilize the third party distribution center in Toronto and will transition the St. Louis center to a distribution pool point for local markets.

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 255 stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The addition of franchise stores in Europe, Asia 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(R) stores, where Guests can make their own doll friends. In April 2006, Build-A-Bear Workshop acquired The Bear Factory Limited and Amsbra, Ltd. adding company-owned stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $362 million in fiscal 2005. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning Web sites at www.buildabear.com and www.friends2bmade.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the federal securities laws) which represent the Build-A-Bear Workshop's expectations or beliefs with respect to future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Those factors include, without limitation: we may not realize some of the expected benefits of the acquisition of Amsbra and The Bear Factory; we may be unable to generate comparable store sales growth; our marketing initiatives may not generate sufficient brand awareness and sales; we may be unable to effectively manage our international franchises or comply with changing laws relating thereto; we may be unable to generate demand for our retail experience, or to respond to consumer preferences; customer mall traffic may decrease, as a result of various factors, including a reduction of consumer confidence because of terrorism or war; general economic conditions may worsen; our market share could be adversely affected by competitors; we may lose key personnel, or be unable to hire qualified additional personnel; vendor deliveries may be disrupted; the availability and costs of our products could be impacted by international manufacturing and trade issues; our warehousing and distribution vendors may perform poorly; we may fail to protect our intellectual property and may have infringement, misappropriation or other disputes or litigation with third parties; we may be unable to open new stores, renew or replace our store leases, enter into leases for new stores on favorable terms, or continue to comply with our current leases; we may experience communications or information systems failures; we may suffer negative publicity or be sued due to alleged violations of labor laws, employee regulations or unethical practices, either by the Company or its merchandise manufacturers; and we may violate or be accused of violating privacy or security laws by reason of improperly obtaining or failing to adequately protect Guest information. These and other applicable risks, cautionary statements and factors that could cause actual results to differ from the Company's forward-looking statements are included in the Company's filings with the SEC, including as described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

CONTACT: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Investors:
Molly Salky, 314-423-8000 x5353
Media:
Katy Lachky, 314-423-8000 x5379

SOURCE: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.