So I feel a bit torn about Build-A-Bear. I remember when Build-A-Bear was a new concept back in the…read more90s when I was a kid, and I have memories of it feeling really fun and kind of magical to walk through, pick out a bear, stuff it, dress it, and take it home. Of course, as a child, I wasn't paying for my bear and had no understanding of the process, so from a 90's 8 year old perspective, this place was great.
Flash forward to 2024 and I took my daughter here on her fourth birthday as a special morning outing for us. I found Build-A-Bear much as I had left it in the late 90s. It was clean, but the format was the same, the footprint at Oak Park Mall the same, and it felt similar to what I remembered from childhood. I let my kiddo pick out a "bear" (hers was a Chase dog from Paw Patrol) and we started our journey.
I guess the first thing that was sort of a let down for me, is how fast the whole experience was. I feel like for Build-A-Bear to be around for nearly 30 years, it would have seen some innovation to stay competitive with other entertainment options for children. I was dismayed that for a whopping $72 we were in there for maybe 30 minutes, and that is honestly being generous. With such a fun concept, and such an insane price point, I was hoping for something more immersive, and more magical. It felt like we were kind of just moving through a production line.
Aside from the obnoxious price point here, my other major quip was with how they upsell children on items for their bear. Asking a four year old if she wants sound for her bear, or a scent, or whatever the extras are - that all cost more money - is insane and unethical. There should be a better system. Sure is an extra 12 dollars going to hurt me? Probably not, but it's gross to me to propose these things to kids that are going to say yes, because they don't understand the concept of money.
Ultimately, for the price point I think they should invest in making this a more special experience for children and parents. Think you walk into an actual workshop, there are sounds, you can't see the mall, and as you go through all steps it's a new room with a new environment. Something has to change here to make this a worthwhile destination. I could honestly also see an option where parents and kids pick out what extras they want up front so there is no asking and it's all on your barcode as you move through.
The bottom line is that your kid will enjoy it, they are getting a fun new toy! But is the experience of building the bear fun or worth the extra price? Not really. There is a ton of room for improvement here.
