The Build-A-Bear Company Celebrates Its 10th Birthday with the Pujols Family Foundation

10.27.07

By Anna Jones

In October 1997, Maxine Clark's vision of a place for children to create their own stuffed bears became reality when she opened a little store in the St. Louis Galleria called Build-A-Bear Workshop. Ten years later, Build-A-Bear Workshop is an international company with annual revenue nearing $500 million.

Maxine Clark and Build-A-Bear Workshop have spent 2007 honoring the company's 10-year anniversary. But a special event was held at the St. Louis Galleria on October 27 to mark that first store's opening, and the Pujols Family Foundation was honored to be invited to take part in the touching celebration.

15 young friends of the Pujols Family Foundation were invited to the store before it opened that morning and were given the chance to create their own little buddies. Each of the youngsters has Down syndrome and some were a little nervous with all the lights and activity. But as soon as they saw the bins of bears and many other critters and characters such as Shrek and Fredbird and had a chance to stuff and place hearts in their new animals, smiles radiated.

After the children's new creations were "bathed" it was time to choose just the right clothes and shoes and myriad of accessories. And Build-A-Bear workers ensured that each newly created friend had everything it might need, from hats to cool shoes and skates to cell phones.

Afterward, the celebration ceremony began and Maxine Clark gave a touching speech to a large crowd gathered in front of the store. The special young guests of the Pujols Family Foundation, which included Albert Pujols' daughter Isabella, stood behind a red ribbon with their new friends during the speech. Afterward, Maxine Clark and other BABW founders joined the youngsters for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The ribbon-cutting marked the kickoff for a full weekend of events (including a big appearance by the Jonas Brothers the next day) - and hopefully many, many more Build-A-Bear Workshop anniversaries to come.