Exhibit 99.1

               Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Names Coleman
                  H. Peterson to Board of Directors

    ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2005--Build-A-Bear Workshop,
Inc. (NYSE: BBW), an interactive, entertainment retailer of customized
stuffed animals, today announced that Coleman Peterson was elected to
the Company's board of directors, effective immediately.
    Peterson's election brings the number of directors on the
Build-A-Bear Workshop board to eight, six of whom, including Peterson,
are deemed independent by the Board under New York Stock Exchange
rules and other applicable regulations. Peterson will serve as
chairman of the board's compensation committee and as a member of the
nominating and corporate governance committee.
    "Cole's extensive global retail experience and strong human
resource skills will be a significant asset to Build-A-Bear Workshop's
board of directors and to our fast growing global company," said
Maxine Clark, chairman and chief executive bear of Build-A-Bear
Workshop. "We are pleased to have someone with Cole's business
background and vision join our board. Cole is indeed one of the
premier human resource professionals in the retail industry."
    Peterson, 57, retired in May 2004, after ten years with Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc., where he held the position of executive vice president
of human resources, a position that included developing policies that
cover that company's more than 1.6 million associates worldwide.
    Prior to joining Wal-Mart, Peterson spent 16 years with The May
Department Stores Company serving as senior vice president human
resources at Venture Stores of St. Louis a division of the May Company
until 1990, when Venture was spun-off as a public company.
    Peterson earned his Bachelor's degree, as well as a Master's
degree in industrial relations, from Loyola University in Chicago.
    Peterson serves on the executive committee of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and as
treasurer of the NAACP's special contribution fund. He holds
memberships in The Society for Human Resource Management, the National
Academy of Human Resources, and the National Council of La Raza. He
also serves on the board of directors of The ServiceMaster Company
(NYSE: SVM) of Chicago and J.B. Hunt Transport Service, Inc. (NASDAQ:
JBHT) of Lowell, Ark.
    Peterson and his wife Shirley have two children Collin and Rana.
    Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is the only global company that
offers an interactive make-you-own-stuffed animal retail-entertainment
experience. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, the company currently
operates more than 200 stores in the United States and Canada. The
addition of stores in Europe, Asia and Australia make Build-A-Bear
Workshop the leader in the teddy bear business. In November 2004, the
company expanded the make-your-own concept from stuffed animals to
dolls with the opening of its first friends 2B made(R) stores, which
feature doll making. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total
revenue of $302 million in fiscal 2004. For more information, call
888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning Web sites at
www.buildabear.com and www.friends2bmade.com.




    CONTACT: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
             Investors:
             Molly Salky, 314-423-8000 x5353
             or
             Media:
             Jill Saunders, 314-423-8000 x5293