Pay-Your-Age Build-A-Bear Event Shut Down At Ocean County Mall

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Parents with children who headed to Ocean County Mall hoping to get in on the Build-A-Bear "Pay Your Age" event were faced with long lines on Thursday that, for some, meant not getting in the door.

With stores across the country overwhelmed by the response to the special sale event, the company announced it was not allowing anymore customers to get in line as of 11 a.m.

"Urgent Alert: Lines Closed for Pay Your Age Day Event." the company posted on its Facebook page. "Per local authorities, we cannot accept additional Guests at our locations due to crowds and safety concerns. We have closed lines in our U.S. and Canada stores. We understand some Guests are disappointed and we will reach out directly as soon as possible."

People started lining up well before the mall in Toms River opened on Thursday.

Brittany Kennard, who was one of the early arrivals, posted that she waited four hours to get in and start the process of getting a bear stuffed. "And we were right near the store," she said.

Though some parents were upset about the wait, Tiffanie Cardona of Toms River praised the security staff at the mall, who handed out water bottles to make sure people stayed hydrated while waiting outside and later gave children waiting punch balloons to help keep them occupied.

"Honestly I don't think it's that bad," she said. "I have a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old out here. They are having a great time with all the other kids."

Parents were attracted to the sales because the bears and stuffed animals at the store normally sell for $20 to $40 apiece, with specialities starting at higher prices, before adding extras such as a voice recording and outfits. But not everyone was convinced it was worth the wait.

"The line for Build-A-Bear at the Ocean County Mall is already outside down the sidewalk, it's crazy," Sherri Donato said in a post on Facebook. ""I'm going to get breakfast instead lol."

The Toms River Office of Emergency Management's Facebook page administrator had a suggestion for those unwilling to wait in line: "Might I suggest building this type of bear instead? I mean, it's chocolate. Need I say more? "

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Photo by Jeannine Reilly of Brick, published with permission