NH Build-A-Bear Customers Turned Away As Promotion Backfires

MANCHESTER, NH — New Hampshire Build-A-Bear Workshop customers were turned away Thursday after a promotion went haywire across the globe. Build-A-Bear offered a "Pay Your Age" deal allowing children to purchase stuffed toys at the price of their age in dollars. The promotion was too much of a hit — massive lines were reported at stores across the country, including three in New Hampshire. There are Build-A-Bear Workshop stores at The Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester, The Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem and The Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua.

Chaotic lines were reported in the New Hampshire stores and others across the world, including Canada and England.

"Per local authorities, we cannot accept additional Guests at our locations due to crowds and safety concerns," the company said in a statement. "We have closed lines in our U.S. and Canada stores. We understand some Guests are disappointed."

The stores bears usually cost about $35, so a 3-year-old child could walk away with one for just $3.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has more than 400 stores worldwide. There are two in Massachusetts in Burlington and Natick and another in Maine at The Maine Mall in South Portland.

More:

• Hordes Of Kids Cause Chaos At Build-A-Bear Stores

Photo credit: Adam Bettcher/Getty Images for Build-A-Bear