Yesterday was the grand opening of Build-A-Bear Workshop in Knott’s Berry Farm’s California Marketplace. Downtown Disney let their store slip away, but like so many wonderful things which have left Disneyland, Knott’s picked it up! Let’s take a look at the brand-new store.
Knott’s Beary Farm Build-A-Bear Workshop
You can find the Build-A-Bear Workshop located behind Virginia’s Gift Shop and Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Bearemy, the Build-A-Bear mascot, was on hand to cut the ceremonial ribbon for the store’s grand opening. There was a sizable crowd for the grand opening, all of them eager to be the first to take a peek inside the brand new Build-A-Bear. Plus, the first 100 guests in the store received a free cream-colored Build-A-Bear.
Bears in a myriad of colors, unicorns, and sloths were just a handful of the selections. Plus, there are also plushes from Paw Patrol, Batman, Pokémon, and How to Train Your Dragon (no Disney plushes here!). Although Build-A-Bear sells a Snoopy plush on its website, it is surprisingly not offered in the store. However, Build-A-Bear is working with Knott’s to bring him in. Also, a sound chip was available that could be downloaded with the “Linus and Lucy” theme and placed in the bear.
There is an Instagram-able wall just inside of the store with the Build-A-Bear logo bear sporting a cowboy hat and bandanna and it’s proving to be very popular among the guests.
Knott’s press release for Build-A-Bear touted special bears and accessories exclusive to the location. It also mentioned an exclusive t-shirt for the store’s opening day. Unfortunately, none of these products were available on opening day. The t-shirt has been met with a production delay and will not be available until mid-February. Additionally, the Knott’s exclusive Western-themed bears and accessories are still in development and should be available mid-summer at the earliest.
This Build A Bear store is a corporate-owned and operated destination location. Like the mall locations, the store will offer birthday parties, the new Bear Builder University class, and Sensory-Friendly Days. Unlike the mall locations, they will not always participate in in-store promotions. The Knott’s location was offering a bonus gift card with a $25 purchase, but not the current promotion of buying a bear, get another for $10.
This locating is still a bit of a work in progress . . . half stuffed if you will, but it’s certainly going to be a fun option for families once those new products hit the shelves. And with a new Knott’s Bear-y Tales ride opening this summer, it would be criminal if there wasn’t some overlap with this new store. We’re looking forward to giving it another look in a month or so.
Build-A-Bear has another Cedar Fair park location in Kings Island, Ohio, but the Knott’s location will be year-round.
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Let’s Hear From You
The Build-A-Bear Workshop at Knott’s is a welcome addition to the Marketplace. Once all the new products arrive, it should prove popular as well. Here’s hoping for Scary Farm-themed Zombie-bears . . . or spiders . . . or ghosts!
Are you thinking about building a new bear friend? What accessories would you want to see at Knott’s Berry Farm? Let us know in the comments.