Build-A-Bear Workshop — Local services in Brandon

I am so upset right now with this store experience that my kids and I went through tonight. I took my 4 children to the build-a- bear workshop at the Brandon Florida mall, and for three of them it was their first time besides being able to stand in line for a couple of minutes before being turned away and given a coupon to come back later. We arrived more than 20 minutes before Closing and once we walked in my kids were instantly excited to see everything they had. So we ended being the lost customer and made our way to the register to check out at about 9:03 because that is when they got finished stuffing the bears. When we started checking out the manager GiGi, who was checking us out, then handed me back a coupon because it could not be used for my oldest daughters bear so I asked if she can changed the bear out really quickly, in which she said with an attitude “yes, she can get another bear but we’re not going to be able to stuff the bear because it’s 9:07 and we had to close a while ago”. So i said I understand that she is ready to go but I was her last customer and was not aware that the coupons had those restrictions so I’ll just take her another day since she refused to ask the other rep to stuff it really quick so we can leave right after. My daughter was disappointed but there was nothing I could do. After I got my receipt I noticed that the two bears was more than what was advertised on all four bins that the bears was out of. So I told her and she said to me the sometimes people switch the signs, and I replied back that I know that in this case that was not true so I immediately walked over to show her the four bins and signs attached in which it was the description and they all said $22 dollars and both bear rang up $24 dollars each. The manager walked over with an attitude and took all four signs which had been there the whole day because remember this was the end of the day and she then said “ I said people switch signs” while removing them. I have been a manager at a retail store before I have ran a business and still am running two, so I know false advertisement and your supposed to honor the price that is posed and how to have excellent customer service. This experience goes against everything that should have been thought in a training room before even dealing with customers. This manager should not even being manager a store that is supposed to be making kids happy i didn’t get loud with her or have an attitude with her she didn’t even take the time to give my kids boxes for their bears. GiGi was so unprofessional and not nice at all. My...

The Day Our Hearts Found Out First

One of the most beautiful chapters in our journey began the day we found out Tiffany was pregnant. The excitement, the nerves, the dreams—all of it came rushing in at once. We knew we wanted our gender reveal to be something special, something just for us. That’s when we decided on Build-A-Bear.

On November 15th, 2024, we walked into the store, hearts pounding and hands holding tightly. Waiting behind the counter were three incredibly sweet ladies—Gabby, Amelia, and Mel—who immediately lit up when we told them why we were there. Their joy became our joy, and suddenly it felt like the whole store was cheering us on.

We picked out the perfect bear, soft and full of promise. We filled him with love, dreams, and a tiny heartbeat of anticipation. Then came the outfits: a delicate pink dress and sparkly shoes for a girl, and a sharp little tuxedo with Chuck Taylors for a boy. We took photos, laughed nervously, and soaked in the magic of the moment.

With a smile and a few quiet prayers, we handed the envelope with the results to Gabby, Amelia, and Mel—along with a credit card—and stepped outside to wait.

Minutes felt like hours.

Then, all three of them came out together, smiling wide, holding a box wrapped in mystery and meaning. None of us knew what was inside—just that it held a piece of our future.

We didn’t open it right away.

Instead, we carried that little box with us to dinner, letting the suspense build with every bite, every glance, every heartbeat. Later, back home in the quiet of our living room, just the two of us and the bear, we opened the box.

Inside was the tuxedo and the tiny Chuck Taylors.

We were having a boy!

And just like that, the bear had a name, the future had a face, and our hearts grew bigger than we ever thought possible.

Then, on May 12th, 2025, our world changed forever.

Liam came into this world—full of love, joy, and cuddly sleep. In his first days, surrounded by warmth and wonder, he finally got to meet his teddy bear friend. The same one filled with love and sealed with a secret all those months ago.

And now, their journey...

Brought my 7 year old daughter to build a bear with the card she recieved for her birthday. The sales associate asked if she was a Girl Scout and she said yes. They said the store is only open to Girl Scouts. I asked if it was any Girl Scout or just their council or a select troop and she looked at me blankly and again said it’s for Girl Scouts. A troop mother told me it’s only for their troop. The rude associates attitude told me to return at 230 when they open. We walked around the mall for 45 minutes and returned at 220. And were told they are done for the day. They are closed after the people in line go inside, and no I could not wait at the end of the line, when my daughter asked and had a sign put in front of her face. I asked what time they closed and she said 6. I looked at the small line and asked if they could not filter the line by then? She said I can walk around the mall and come back by 6 and see if I can get in or if they decide to open. Crying child, super rude clueless associate, clueless security guard, horrible experience, child still crying 15 minutes later from the way the lady was speaking to her. Disappointment she will get over. A sign in the face is just rude. Thank you for the horrific experience. My 15 year past career in retail management as a district manager begs me to ask; where do they find their associates? Are they embarrassed at their level of service? Is there a dress code?!?!?! Isn’t a children’s store supposed to be kind to children and not make them cry in the middle...