ST. LOUIS-Build-A-Bear Workshop will debut a virtual world laterthis year, adding cyberspace communities to its continuing growthin the real world, executives said at the company's third quarterconference call. Beginning Nov. 1., customers will get a pass toits new virtual world website, which will have a virtual store, andallow members to have adventures with recently purchased bears andconduct live chats. The program is free.

“We realize that in the last 12 to 18 months, children's playpatterns, particularly girls, have shifted to the online world,”says Maxine Clark, chairman and chief executive bear. “Our new sitewill be highly complementary to our existing stores.”

Those stores will continue to increase, as the company continuesto grow its signature Build-A-Bear Stores in North America andoverseas, as well as expand its test of the Ridermakerz toy carstores.