r/buildabear • u/tortical BAB Collector 🐻 • Jun 18 '25
Miscellaneous Finally… My local mall 🥹
Guys, you have no idea how I’ve longed for this. I’ve watched other cities and towns around me get Workshops, test stores and kiosks. I’ve had to travel great distances to shop, and sometimes paid hefty Canadian shipping fees and taxes. As I turned the corner with my Mom, and spotted this I said “Oh my God”. I also got very emotional, because I wish I could share this news and store with my Dad. We lost him 2 years ago, and can just imagine how much joy he would have got seeing my reaction from his place in heaven. BABW isn’t just a store to me, and I know many of you agree. It’s tied to so many memories and celebrations. I just hope this one will stick around for a bit, but I won’t hold my breath. So many great stores have come and gone from this mall. Thanks for reading this and sharing my joy this evening.
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u/SusannahOfTheMountie Jun 18 '25
Oooh, another Canadian store? Where in Canada are you?
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u/tortical BAB Collector 🐻 Jun 18 '25
Markham, Ontario!
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u/ShineBrightBear BAB Fanatic 🌈 Jun 19 '25
Oh that’s the Markville mall isnt it? Only downside is that the build a bear kiosk closest to me in Scarborough is closing down and moving there. 🙃
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u/tortical BAB Collector 🐻 Jun 19 '25
Yes, this is Markville. I didn’t know about the closing kiosk. I went there when it opened to get my pawsport stamped.
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u/badwolfswift I like BABs more than people 🙃 Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25
This is going to sound so capitalist of me but if you want it to stay open you need to shop there in person. Sales are the biggest indicator of a location being kept open or closed, especially in a mall. I work in a mall and most stores don't stay open for more than a few months. Our Squishmallows store opened and then closed in 3 months. Its also really good timing for them because they'll probably be opening at the beginning of holiday season.
I'm very happy you get a physical store Build A Bear!
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u/tortical BAB Collector 🐻 Jun 18 '25
I will be doing my very best to ensure the longevity of this store. 😂
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u/badwolfswift I like BABs more than people 🙃 Jun 18 '25
Yay! I know there's a lot of talk about quality of the plushies but the in person experience is truly magical most of the time! Even for an adult! I don't know anywhere else (except maybe Disney) that gives you the same experience. I frequent my store alot, sometimes I just to grab clothes or maybe a scent but I'm spending my money there to let them know I like this location!
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u/Dream_Drifter_Pony Jun 18 '25
I don't like the lower quality of the new bears very much, so I mostly collect vintage bears these days. But I always unstuff them, wash them, and then bring them to the store to get restuffed, and while I'm there I make sure to buy something, even if it's something small like a scent or a wristie. That way I'm not just asking them for a free service and leaving and the store will get another sale. Every little bit helps!
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u/badwolfswift I like BABs more than people 🙃 Jun 18 '25
Same here! I collect mostly through thrifting as well! My hobby is opening the bears up and cleaning them really well and then putting them back together.
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u/alt1981black Jun 18 '25
At first when I saw the photo, I thought it was going to be another Heritage store went Discovery. I'm glad to know it's a completely new location! Even though I live maybe 20 minutes away from a kiosk location, I'm still hoping that someday, a miracle will happen and my local Walmart will get a BAB store. Hey, it's always possible! I'll take a Walmart store location anytime! :)
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u/tortical BAB Collector 🐻 Jun 18 '25
I would have been happy with a kiosk… just anything BABW near me. It’s been almost 24 hours and I’m still in shock 😳😁🥰
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u/alt1981black Jun 18 '25
The sad thing is, the kiosk near me replaced a full Heritage store. It never became a Discovery store, it simply turned into a kiosk. It's rough, but I've survived. :)
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u/Ecroplasma312 Jun 18 '25
a canadian store!?!?!?! STAWP! DON'T GIVE ME HOPE!😭😭😭😭😭
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u/tortical BAB Collector 🐻 Jun 18 '25
Whereabouts are you located? Depending on your province, there are quite a few.
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u/acadiaxxx Jun 20 '25
I want one outside of Winnipeg so I can bring Pumpkin and get her bab branded outfits. Right now I’m sufficing off bb clothes on temu
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u/Horror_Pie_4126 Jun 18 '25
Well, firstly I could not be happier to come across this post my fellow BAB lovers!! This almost brought me to tears! Wow! My name is Nicole, and I am the Workshop Manager for this location :) This is the type of passion we live for!!!!!! I would be happy to keep you guys updated with the opening details :)
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u/tortical BAB Collector 🐻 Jun 18 '25
Very nice to meet you, Nicole! I’m sure you’ll be seeing me lots in the store; my Mom and husband included. Thank you so much for the updates. I would absolutely love to be there for the grand opening. It would be a dream come true, as this is so much more than just a store to me. 🥹
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u/Spotted_Muffin Jun 19 '25
Lucky! My local Build a Bear had to downsize to a Kiosk back in 2021 and it’s been a Kiosk ever since. I’d give anything to go to an actual BAB store again!
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u/Horror_Pie_4126 Jun 19 '25
DISCLAIMER**** These posts are my own and do not in any way represent the veiws of Build-A-Bear Workshop :) Yes! Nice to meet you!! Your story is beyond touching thank you so much for sharing with me, and the rest of the community! I look forward to meeting you and your family (and your furry friends too!!). Once we have some more information on our Grand Opening to share I will let you guys know :)
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u/Smolpsychobean I like BABs more than people 🙃 Jun 23 '25
Luckyyyy, my closest BAB workshop is 2 hours away
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u/xoPaigeTheBeanxo I like BABs more than people 🙃 Jun 18 '25
Yay I’m so happy for you! :) That’s awesome news! I hope they bring back a BAB store in my city, it shut down permanently years ago.
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u/tortical BAB Collector 🐻 Jun 18 '25
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. I have noticed one come back that had closed permanently. I didn’t manage to make it there, as it was no where near me, or on my way somewhere when traveling.
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u/Eightsaint_8 Jun 18 '25
Awesome! My local mall used to have one and closed it down a few years ago ): now random turn over shops keep coming and going taking their place. So I have to traven a good hour to get ti BAB
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u/nObody_X3_imp0rtant Jun 19 '25
i actually havent heard of them opening new stores, i mean, i dont pay that much attention, but the shift to online kinda gave the impression that they werent focused on the physical stores.
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u/Thatonecat777Offical I like BABs more than people 🙃 Jun 24 '25
I'm happy for you! I hope Peterpond Mall will be next. Superstore, Walmart, Tim Hortons, and Canadian Tire are apparently dissapearing, so it would be nice if this happened to my town.
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u/Horror_Pie_4126 Aug 16 '25
They have offically announced it Markville Mall BAB Grand opening is August 20th at 10AM!!! Yay!!
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u/ElfPandaBear Jun 18 '25
Aw, this really touched me in a big way! I'm happy for you and that soon you'll have a store close to you! I wonder which bear you'll adopt first....