Build-A-Bear Workshop’s “Pay Your Age” promotion proved too popular.
The chain known for its custom-built teddy bears couldn’t handle the crowds Thursday – including in Wichita – and had to turn shoppers away. It wrote in a Facebook post it closed lines at its stores in Canada and the U.S. due to overwhelming crowds and safety concerns.
Mall officials at Towne East Square in Wichita confirmed mall security had closed the lines early Thursday afternoon, citing an estimated six-hour wait time for customers.
The company’s offer, which let customers buy a bear and pay their current age with a cap at $29, was also available at its United Kingdom stores.
Customers took to social media to complain afterward. The company said it knew people were disappointed, and it would respond soon.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
Evan Pflugradt is an intern in the KMUW News Lab.Follow him @evPflu.