Few People Know Missouri Was Home To The First Build-A-Bear Workshop In America
By Beth Price-Williams|Published April 27, 2023
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
No matter where we grew up or how old we are, most of us have had a beloved stuffed animal that we cuddled at night, clung to when we were worried or afraid, and brought with us into the future. Teddy bears are timeless, but today’s little ones have a unique opportunity – to build their own teddy bear or other stuffed animal, all thanks to one woman, who started the first Build-A-Bear Workshop in America right here in Missouri.
While we can still go to our favorite toy store for an adorable stuffed animal, sometimes we want choosing a stuffed animal to be an experience, and that’s just what Build-A-Bear Workshop offers.
Maxine Clark, the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, had a vision more than a quarter of a century ago. She wanted to create a shop where families could come to make “their own personalized furry friends.”
Previously the President of Payless ShoeSource, Clark decided to go straight to her target audience – kids – to learn what they wanted to see most in a store. The concept of building a bear from start to finish, while kids and their families watched, was one idea pitched, and it won.
In October of 1997, the first Build-A-Bear Workshop opened to much fanfare at the Saint Louis Galleria Mall. A long line of families lined up in the mall, excited about this new experience.
Since that first store opened, the company has become a worldwide phenomenon. Today, there are more than 500 shops around the world, employing more than 4,000 employees. You can even purchase your own Build-A-Bear online.
If you’ve never been to a Build-A-Bear Workshop, you’re in for a treat that starts with deciding what type of bear to build. Choose from bears, bunnies, cows, frogs, and axolotls. You can even add a voice recording to your bear’s heart.
Did you know that the first Build-A-Bear Workshop in America was right here in Missouri? Have you been to this iconic shop? Let us know in the comments! For more family-friendly fun, climb aboard The Wheel at Union Station in St. Louis, Missouri for sweeping views of the city. (The gondola even has a glass floor.)
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