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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RezNoMxNYMCFsoSnxraghgIXS6f5AVEIiNKBZfJxrsGkJLpbQDstQwWtIUAvbjMU
 Kuq7ke8yoC6eUaXR+DOHww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950138-10-000351.txt : 20100513
<SEC-HEADER>0000950138-10-000351.hdr.sgml : 20100513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100513162825
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950138-10-000351
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100511
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100513
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100513

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FINNEGAN DAVID W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001458970

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32320
		FILM NUMBER:		10828932

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.
		STREET 2:		1954 INNERBELT BUSINESS CENTER DR.
		CITY:			ST. LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63114

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUILD A BEAR WORKSHOP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001113809
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-HOBBY, TOY & GAME SHOPS [5945]
		IRS NUMBER:				431883836
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0101

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1954 INNERBELT BUSINESS CENTRE DRIVE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		314-423-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1954 INNERBELT BUSINESS CENTRE DRIVE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001113809</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BUILD A BEAR WORKSHOP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001458970</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FINNEGAN DAVID W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1954 INNERBELT BUSINESS CENTER DR.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63114</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Info &amp; Logistics Bear</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10308</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.02</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48064</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported price is the weighted average sale price per share for 69 transactions in which the sale prices ranged from $8.95 to $9.14 per share.  The reporting person undertakes to provide full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate sales price upon request of the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the issuer or any security holder of the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">After giving effect to the transactions reported in this Form 4, Mr. Finnegan directly owns 0 shares of common stock and 48,064 shares of restricted stock of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. In addition, Mr. Finnegan holds vested options to purchase 5,570 shares and unvested options to purchase 26,394 shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.'s common stock. The balance of shares of common stock directly owned by Mr. Finnegan, which had previously been overstated by 480 shares, has been corrected in this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David W. Finnegan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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