Build-A-Bear Opens $11M Flagship at Orlando’s ICON Park

• 8431 International Drive, Orlando, FL: Build-A-Bear Workshop is preparing to open its three-story flagship at ICON Park in November, replacing the brand’s existing location at the entertainment complex.
• The approximately 33,600-square-foot, $11 million project will feature the brand’s first-ever Design Studio, an interactive Bakeshop, a Personalize Me customization station and a rooftop terrace.
• The appointment-based Design Studio will give guests one-on-one assistance from Design Consultants, including expanded choices for fur, texture, eye color, paw design and other custom features.

What Build-A-Bear Is Bringing To ICON Park

Build-A-Bear Workshop is expanding its Orlando presence with a significantly larger experiential retail concept at ICON Park. The company describes the new three-story location as its largest and most ambitious Workshop to date, moving beyond traditional mall-based plush customization. Construction began in 2025 after Build-A-Bear announced the project in March of that year. The company is now targeting a November 2026 opening, although an exact grand opening date has not yet been announced.

What The New Flagship Will Offer

The centerpiece will be the first-ever Build-A-Bear Design Studio, where customers can make appointments to work directly with a Design Consultant. Guests can select specialized materials and customize details before a Build-A-Bear seamstress creates the finished plush. The location will also introduce the Build-A-Bear Bakeshop, where visitors can decorate cupcakes and cookies, along with a Personalize Me station offering embroidery, screen printing and patches for apparel and plush products.

What The $11M Investment Means For ICON Park

The new flagship adds a substantial experiential retail component to International Drive, one of Orlando's major tourism corridors. Its multi-level format is designed to encourage visitors to spend more time at the property rather than simply making a traditional retail purchase. The project is also part of ICON Park's broader expansion of attractions, dining and entertainment offerings. Build-A-Bear's existing ICON Park store occupies a much smaller space at 8371 International Drive, while the new flagship is planned at 8431 International Drive.

What Chute Gerdeman Designed

Build-A-Bear partnered with Chute Gerdeman, the design firm behind immersive retail environments including the FAO Schwarz flagship in New York. The firm helped translate Build-A-Bear's traditional workshop concept into a larger, interactive destination. The project also includes a partially enclosed rooftop terrace, creating additional space for visitors and events while giving the building a more prominent presence along International Drive.

What Comes Next For Build-A-Bear

With the opening scheduled for November 2026, Build-A-Bear is moving toward the debut of its most extensive retail concept yet. For Orlando's tourism-driven retail market, the project shows how established brands are investing in larger, experience-focused destinations to capture visitor spending.