Teddy bears ride in style as Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) puts its interactive bear-making experience on wheels and travels to Detroit, Michigan to be part of John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R). Throughout this year, the award winning make-your-own stuffed animal retailer is taking Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour, a traveling Build-A-Bear Workshop store, to fairs, sporting and entertainment venues throughout the country.

In addition to offering Guests at the event a chance to make their own personalized bear in a variety of licensed Major League Baseball bear-sized clothing and accessories, Build-A-Bear Workshop will team up with Major League Baseball to reach out to local Detroit children. As part of John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R) events, Bearemy(R), Build-A-Bear Workshop mascot, will help kids from Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) make their own furry friends. In addition, Bearemy and other Major League Baseball mascots will be delivering bears to children at the Children's Hospital of Michigan during the Mascot Friendship Tour.

"Visiting John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R) is one of the highlights on the Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour event schedule this year," said Maxine Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop. "Working with Major League Baseball is a natural fit for us as baseball is a significant part of the American culture, as are stuffed animals! Our mobile store was created to take the Add one/ Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) On Tour at John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R) experience and interaction of our mall-based stores to places where families go to have fun; FanFest is one of those places!"

Exclusively available in the Detroit market and at John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R), Detroit Tigers(TM) fans can make their very own Detroit Tigers Mascot, Paws(TM), while visiting Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) On Tour. Guests to the store will choose from a variety of stuffed animals ranging in price from $10 - $22 including Lil' Carmel Cub, Marvelous Monkey, Read Teddy(R), Bearemy(R) and other furry friends.

While visiting John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R), Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour will offer Guests a variety of ways to personalize their furry friends in a full selection of officially licensed Major League Baseball items. While the bear-sized sports assortment is typically only available in select markets, Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour will offer bear-sized items from every Major League Baseball Club. Bear-sized officially licensed Club uniforms, tees and caps range in price from $5 - $15. Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour will also offer bear-sized All-Star tees, caps and pennants! The officially licensed merchandise is authentic down to the smallest detail, including Major League Baseball style jerseys, belted baseball pants, stirrup socks and official team logos on the uniforms.

Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour store hours at John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R):

Friday, July 8 -- 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 9 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 10 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.(a)
Monday, July 11 -- 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 12 -- 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.(b)

(a)July 10
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) makes bears with Bearemy

(b)July 12
9:00-1:00 p.m.
Mascot Friendship Tour

Build-A-Bear Workshop On Tour is located inside the Cobo Conference-Exhibition Center, adjacent to the Major League Baseball Store.

Build-A-Bear Workshop In-Stadium Stores:

Build-A-Bear Workshop opened its first in-stadium store with the Philadelphia Phillies(TM), Make Your Own Phanatic(TM) by Build-A-Bear Workshop, at Citizens Bank Park(TM) in March 2004. Two additional stadium stores opened in April 2005, Make Your Own Slider(TM) by Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) at Jacobs Field(TM) with Add two/ Build-A-Bear Workshop(R) On Tour at John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R) the Cleveland Indians(TM), as well as Make Your Own Gapper(TM) by Build-A-Bear Workshop located in Great American Ball Park(TM) with the Cincinnati Reds(TM).

About John Hancock All-Star FanFest(R):

John Hancock All-Star FanFest, an interactive baseball theme park and the largest baseball fan event in the world, will make its first visit to Detroit as part of 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Week(TM). John Hancock All-Star FanFest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience with activities and exhibits designed for families and fans of all ages. Now in its 15th year, John Hancock All-Star FanFest is a baseball celebration that captures the thrills and excitement of Major League Baseball(TM) with more than 40 interactive exhibits and attractions, Major League clinics and seminars, free autograph sessions, live entertainment, memorabilia and much more.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop:

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW), with fiscal 2004 total revenue of $302 million, is the only national company that offers Guests an interactive make-your-own-stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. The first store opened in St. Louis in 1997; the company currently operates over 190 stores in the United States and Canada. With the opening of its store in Sheffield, England, in the fall of 2003 and the addition of international stores in Japan, Denmark, Australia, South Korea and France, Build-A-Bear Workshop has become the global leader in the teddy bear business. In November 2004, the company opened two friends 2B made(R) stores, the newest concept based on the doll-making experience. For more information about the company and its products, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning web site at http://www.buildabear.com.