Unbearable Lines At Galleria's Build-A-Bear Workshop Thursday

ST. LOUIS, MO — Build-A-Bear Workshops across Missouri and around the country turned thousands of people away at yesterday's "pay your age" sale due to "crowd and safety concerns." With so many people scrambling to pay just a few dollars for stuffed animals that ordinarily retail for $35 and up, lines quickly became unbearable.

The sale was part of a nationwide celebration of the company's launch of the Build-A-Bear "Count Your Candles" birthday experience.

But the stuffing soon hit the fan.

"We have closed lines in our U.S. stores. We understand some of our Guests are disappointed and we will reach out directly as soon as possible," the store said in a release.

Anyone who was turned away should be eligible for a $15 voucher toward their next visit.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has more than 400 stores worldwide, including one in the St. Louis Galleria. It was very crowded yesterday, with many shoppers saying they waited hours to take advantage of the sale. A Build-A-Bear employee managing the line told Patch that "thousands" of people had visited the store on Thursday. As of 6 p.m., it seemed the lines had been reopened and upward of 100 people were still waiting.

But while Build-A-Bear was madness, some other stores and restaurants in the mall were giving parents a break. "Free small plate for any parent who survived pay your age day," read a sign outside California Pizza Kitchen. "P.S. We also sell wine by the bottle."

Photos by J. Ryne Danielson/Patch