LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)- Acadiana Mall General Manager Bryan LeBlanc said nearly 1,000 people are waiting in line outside “Build-A-Bear” for its special, one-day promotion.

Other stores around the country have reportedly been forced to close because of the unexpected high turnout.

However, at 10:30 a.m. this morning, the company issued this statement:

“Please be aware: Based on the unprecedented response to our Pay Your Age Day event in our early opening stores, we are experiencing significantly longer than expected lines and large crowds. Local authorities are requiring us to limit the lines and crowds due to safety concerns. We understand this is disappointing, we are working to address the situation, and we will be reaching out to our valued Guests soon.”

Acadiana Mall officials worked to keep the line from overlapping with the mall’s regular flow traffic throughout the day, LeBlanc said.

“It’s definitely an overwhelming response,” said Jamie Stelly, marketing manager for the Acadiana Mall. “I don’t think Build-A-Bear anticipated this kind of response for Pay Your Age Day. I would say we’ve say we’ve seen a couple thousand people today.”

The “Pay Your Age” promo allows bears to be sold for the amount of the child’s age. It was part of the company’s Birthday Club campaign where a child gets a bear on the month of their birthday.

Like many around the country, long lines didn’t stop Acadiana families from taking advantage of the special, day-long deal.