Just saw this online. Are these people for real? Wtf is happening in the world right now? I really hope LEGO tells the complainers to stuff off and not cave in.

This was just announced on the Bricklink Twitter, and this page has more info!

https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/main.page

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Our Logo

Hey friends!

I've been wanting to make this post for a long time. I'm opening up the first LEGO Cafe in the United States this Summer. It's going to be called The Brickery Cafe & Play.

For the past year, my wife and I have been working tirelessly to put into action an idea that popped into my head a year ago as I was getting in the shower.

"LEGO Cafe - it's like a boardgame cafe but with LEGO."

I tend to have a lot of outlandish ideas, but this felt like one worth pursuing. I had previously looked into starting a Bricks & Minifigs franchise in my area with a friend, but we didn't get very far because we were personally struggling to figure out how to make it make sense financially for two families with multiple kids (I know people absolutely do and that's awesome). The idea of having other revenue streams besides selling used (and new) LEGO is what made it click for me.

I started running it past friends - some into LEGO, some who couldn't care less - and most at least saw the value of building a holistic business around the #1 toy brand in the world. I'd never done anything like open a business before. Regardless, I dove in headfirst.

There is infiinitely more to the story, but I know this is already running long in the tooth.

We're opening in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (NKY) area at a mixed-use development/shopping center called Newport on the Levee that sits right on the river in NKY across from downtown Cincinnati. It houses the city's aquarium and one of the best-performing movie theaters in the region.

The general idea is that it is essentially what it sounds like, but is focused more on the experience of LEGO rather than the collection aspect. We'll have snacks, drinks, and desserts available for purchase (not a full-service restaurant).

We'll sell new and used LEGO sets as well as loose bricks - planning to have a very large pick-a-brick wall with half of it color-sorted and half of it part-sorted. Of course, we'll sell minifigs and have build-a-fig as well.

We'll have a large seating area with LEGO bricks on every table. These will come from Classic Creative sets and we'll include the ideas book on every table as well as encourage patrons to download the Builder app. We're also going to try renting sets to build in-house and classify them as small, medium, large, xl, etc. with an approximate build time. If the patron wants to keep the set once they've built it, they can put the rental cost towards the total purchase price.

The cafe will be free to enter, but we will have a children's play area for kids aged 5-12 that will have an admission cost. In the play area, we'll have themed tables (Mario table, Harry Potter table, Star Wars table, etc.) that have large sets pre-built as setpieces to play with, and then still have plenty to build. So the Harry Potter table will have Hogwart's already built and on the table, but the kids can still build Hagrid's Hut, etc.

https://preview.redd.it/fjsgzuzrgtua1.jpg?width=1039&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=245bb830421d009d160686cfd787d16e5228de26

And then we'll have an event room for birthday parties, but I'm also hoping to engage local business and corporations for corporate events. I want to equally market to children, families, and adults.

I am trying to keep the barrier to entry as low as possible, and my hope is to focus a little less on the enthusiast and bring more people into the LEGO fold. My bet is that, more often than not, if people are given permission to play/build (i.e. this is just what we do here), then they will find out that building/creating with LEGO is relaxing, engaging, and fun. Something we're all well aware of here.

In the spirit of PLAY WELL, I am an open book, and I am happy to answer any questions you might have. I know some might be scared to share their business model, but I think there is plenty of room at the table for all of us.

I would so appreciate it if you gave us a follow on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, etc. You can find it all on our Linktree.

And, of course(!), I would love to have you into the cafe one day if you ever find yourself in my midwest neck of the woods.

I'll leave you with a temporary window display (and window decal next to it!) we just finished setting up to generate buzz ahead of opening.

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https://preview.redd.it/25apa9ukitua1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=07b0a14517ed4cbf9522a7c16475f521e4348c17

They look great! (Especially the UP one)