Place: Vaughan Canada - Build A Bear Workshop

There are a few Build-A-Bear workshops in Toronto, I’ve only had experience of the Vaughan Mills branch. The store itself is fairly small and can get very crowded, especially at the weekend and during school holidays, so unless you’re planning on taking a school age child to build their bear then I would definitely recommend visiting during school hours. As the shop is quite small it does seem a little cluttered and if there’s more than a couple of shoppers then it becomes quite difficult to navigate a buggy with a few bottlenecks as shoppers choose their bears and accessories.

The staff are all friendly, perhaps overly so, I prefer not to be hassled as I make my purchases and easily recognisable with their bright yellow tops.  From what I’ve seen the staff engage well with children and no matter what age you are they do their best to totally immerse you in the buying experience. Although you can buy the bears and other soft toys already stuffed and dressed, doing so means you’ll really miss out on what makes Build-A-Bear such a special experience. The first stage in building your bear to choose which furry friend you want to become your best friend. Although the range can vary from store to store and season to season, I find there’s usually a good selection to choose from, including teddy bears, dogs, and even monkeys. There are even a couple of asthma friendly toys available. There’s a sample of each of the furry friends displayed on a shelf and when you’ve made your choice it’s simply a case of picking one up out of the ‘bins’.


But what’s this, the bears aren’t exactly cuddly, in fact at this stage only their heads are stuffed and their bodies are empty, waiting to be lovingly filled. But before filling the bear there’s the chance to add a sound box for a small extra cost.


You can print out a Birth Certificate for your Bear. You name it and get a A4 print out with a little ribbon tied around it.

Now it is up to pay for the goods. You get your bear in a big box and it looks a bit like a house. I thought the box looked great, but it was only a stancilled picture on the box, and I think it would have been better if it was in colour.

Don't expect it to be cheap - resign yourself to the whole experience and except that for a one-off you will have to pay. Each bear is roughly $ 20, clothes averaging $ 12, shoes averaging $ 10 and accessories roughly around $ 20.

The Build a Bear stores are created for kids (like me!) and for adults alike. It is a great way to add a personal touch to a gift or to simply make sure your stuffed animal is exactly the friend you want.  Enjoy yourself and I challenge the most reserved and grown up of grown ups to not feel the kid in them peek through just a little bit while you are in there.