<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950138-11-000358.txt : 20110531
<SEC-HEADER>0000950138-11-000358.hdr.sgml : 20110530
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110531174316
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950138-11-000358
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110531
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110531

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:		11882738

	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>2011-05-27</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 Information Bear</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6094</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.64</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49535</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 50 transactions in which the sale prices ranged from $6.59 to $6.70 per share.  The reporting person undertakes to provide full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate 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 49,535 shares of restricted stock of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.  In addition, Mr. Finnegan holds vested options to purchase 13,061 shares and unvested options to purchase 27,747 shares of Build-A-Bear Workship, Inc.'s common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David W. Finnegan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-05-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
