Huge Crowds Shut Down Build-A-Bear Promotion At Columbia Mall

COLUMBIA, MD — If you haven't already visited the Build-A-Bear to "pay your age," it's too late. The toy store's one-day promotion created an overwhelming response that put a cap on the lines after noon.

Crowds inundated area malls Thursday with hours-long lines stretching out of the stores. The Mall in Columbia announced that lines were closed due to safety concerns, and Build-A-Bear would be handling inquiries about the situation.

The toy company was offering quite the deal for Thursday: Get any "Make-Your-Own" furry friend for the price of a kid's age, as long as the child was in the store.

The promotion was part of a nationwide celebration of the company's launch of the Build-A-Bear "Count Your Candles" birthday experience. But the promotion seemingly worked too well.

Stores are no longer accepting additional guests due "crowd and safety concerns," the company announced Thursday.

Photos posted on social media showed lines stretching out the door at stores across the country, including at The Mall in Columbia.

One woman said that her sister had been waiting in line for nearly four hours at the mall.

Around 2:05 p.m., the sister reported she had gotten her Build-A-Bear and was so impressed with the positive attitudes of the employees amidst the pandemonium that she bought them a treat from the Great American Cookie afterward.

@buildabear My sister is in line w/her granddaughter at Columbia Mall Maryland. They have been in line for almost 4 hours now for the one day only pay your age workshop! They are almost to the door now. She said the line is 3x longer than when she got in line. Such a great deal! pic.twitter.com/PK9pO7Cfwz
— Diane Delsig (@Diane_Delsig) July 12, 2018

On this date in history, I braved the #buildabear pandemonium at Columbia Mall with no iPad or Leappad or Kindle. Still in line, but the end is in sight.
— Sarah Dreyer (@sarah_dre) July 12, 2018

Image via Adam Bettcher/Getty Images for Build-A-Bear

— By Patch editors Daniel Hampton, Elizabeth Janney and Kara Seymour

SEE ALSO: Build-A-Bear Offers 'Pay Your Age' Thursday In Columbia