Build-A-Bear Workshop — Local services in Rockford Township

I do not recommend this Build-A-Bear location. For Christmas the children and myself received unstuffed skins. We had hoped the kids going to the store themselves, filling it, and even dressing it be a lot of fun, and an activity to do over the winter break! Unfortunately the staff was less than welcoming. In particular an older woman employee almost immediately made us feel unwelcome. She seemed annoyed that we had bought our bears online. We also purchased two additional bears while we were there as well as clothes for all the animals. Not that is should matter as the bears were bought from Build-A-Bear and the option is open for families to stuff them themselves in store. While looking for a particular bear they had on display we struggled to find the skin. No other customers where in the store aside us the entire time. She saw and heard us but ignored us and our questions.

Compared to other locations we have been, the process of filling our bear was a lot less fun. The tone and attitude of the staff member in question had the children more shy and timid where as they usually have fun. There was no spinning or dancing during the stuffing either.

When we mentioned we wanted it stuffed lightly so it was squishy we were told it was incorrect and how he wanted it stuffed was “fluffy”. Not sure why we couldn’t just stuff it how I asked. She was a bit of a right fighter. One of the children grabbed a heart for his bear and the woman told him he doesn’t get to pick a heart till it’s stuffed. She didn’t talk to the kids while stuffing, it was awkward and silent as she gave orders. Then when it came to the heart she sounded anything but enthusiastic.

Finally the children had their bears and it was time for mine. I knew if she didn’t like the children she wouldn’t like me. I don’t expect her to make the experience fun for me, nor do I really want to make a wish on a heart, I’m an adult, however I am not going to ruin the fun for the kids. While I find it a bit embarrassing I will do it to be a good sport. When she asked how I wanted mine stuffed, I said, I want the stuffing loose, not that firm. She said how I want it is called “medium”. Its way firmer and fatter than I want, I almost feel she did it on purpose just to be petty. When it came time to do the heart I was told to make a wish. I said “alright, then I wish for next year to be better than this one” (it’s almost new years as I write this). She proclaimed “Well NOW its not going to come true because you said it” with the biggest attitude. Thanks for that. She never said keep it to myself or whisper in her instructions either, just to make a wish. The kids didn’t bother making a wish I think because of her demeanor. So when she just said make a wish, so I made one out loud. Even if saying my wish out loud invalidated my wish in her beliefs who is she to say it’s not coming true? Especially as an employee to Build-A-Bear. Your supposed to be fun, and nice. How is stepping on my wish doing that? At that point I was more than done, but I didn’t the children to miss out on getting to pick outfits. We pay the Build-A-Bear price tag for the experience. Not for the mediocre bears.

Build-A-Bear is supposed to be fun and memorable. But all it was at this location was a big price tag and an anxiety inducing experience.

Im not writing off the company, just this location. I hope if you come to this location you fair better...

I went there ALL the time when I was eight years old. Some of my fondest memories were of going to Build-A-Bear with my mother when I was just a little girl, the store employee's were always so cheerful and always made sure I was happy. Even if I got there in a gloomy mood due to whatever reason, I was all smiles within minutes. I haven't been to one in fifteen years but went recently to buy an Eevee and it hasn't changed one bit. The employee's were so so SO nice, and talkative and happy. Really put me in a great mood. In a world where so much changes when your an adult, I'm glad to see Build-A-Bear is still able to do what it did for me - make wonderful memories for children all over. I'm very happy with...

The lady who helped us during our visit said she worked there for 25+years, and she was an older white lady. She made me and my group very uncomfortable by saying some inappropriate things. I was buying a bear for my girlfriend and i wanted her to do the foot pump but the woman was aggressive and told her she couldn’t do it because i was the one purchasing the bear? When checking the stuffing of the bear my gf was squeezing the bear to check the firmness and the woman said verbatim, “ i said hug the bear not molest the bear” that made us all feel so uncomfortable and we just wanted to leave after that. Not a good experience, don’t think we...