Until recently, Colorado Springs Lego enthusiasts did not have many shopping options locally; instead, they would have to head to Denver to find Lego-based stores or else shop online. That has changed, however, with the recent opening of Bricks & Minifigs in north Colorado Springs. Now they have an option much closer to home, a place to go for a variety of Lego items and Lego-based events.
Owner Caleb Thorne was a Lego fan growing up, though he fell away from the hobby for a bit during college and early adulthood, referring to that time as “the dark age of Lego.” However, Thorne’s son began building and eventually renewed his own interest; they began building sets together. As they built more and more sets, they also ventured into building custom pieces.
At one point, they found themselves in need of many single-colored bricks for a project. They checked the official Lego store in Denver with no luck and were stumped that online shopping seemed to be their only option. Further research helped Thorne find a Bricks & Minifigs franchise in Littleton in late 2021. He and his son ended up visiting multiple times over a couple of months, and Thorne realized how much of a need there was for a similar store in Colorado Springs.
He started to investigate what it would take to start the business and decided it was an exciting opportunity to take the leap. Fast forward several months and Bricks & Minifigs Colorado Springs North opened its doors in late 2022, with a grand opening in January 2023.
Bricks & Minifigs at the LEGO Store
Bricks & Minifigs is a franchise store, but the first of its kind in Colorado Springs. The store itself provides a refreshing variety of products. There are bulk tables where collectors can sort through loose bricks to find just the pieces they need, along with a possible hidden treasure or two.
There is a setup for building your own mini-figures, or you can choose from another table of pre-built ones. The store offers a range of set options, from new and often hard-to-find sets to a variety of used sets, as well as retired and certified used sets. Display cases house multitudes of collectibles, ranging from mini-figures to animals to small car kits.
Something that makes Bricks & Minifigs stand out is their commitment to serving people of all budgets. Lego products can become expensive fast, especially for avid builders. According to Thorne, “A big goal of ours is to have price points for everyone.”
In the display cases, shelves are grouped by price, including levels at $3, $5, $7, $10, and $15. This allows people on a budget or children bringing in their allowance to be able to find something they can afford and to know where to look. In addition, Bricks & Minifigs receives most of its supplies directly through trades, and they also welcome trades (for store credit currently) any time during their business hours.
And then there is the event room. During the grand opening, it housed two former contestants from the show “Legomasters,” there for meet and greets, autographs and to display some of their impressive work. Thorne has plans for this space and is preparing it for future events.
Who Buys LEGO Products?
When asked if he sees more adults or children in his shop, Thorne stated it was about “50/50, an even split so far.” He shared that he’d expected to see more adults collecting the mini-figures while children went for sets, but instead he has found that people of all ages collect Lego products.
Lego does make some adult-targeted sets, such as modular builds and the creator series, but some adults seem to be seeking the nostalgia of their youth while others are drawn in due to their fandoms, such as Marvel or Star Wars. “Passion projects bring them in,” Thorne says of all ages.
Colorado Springs LEGO Community
When asked how the reception to the store has been, Thorne replied, “the community here has blown me away” with their excitement, adding “at our grand opening there were long lines.” He has heard the same refrain that people were tired of driving to Denver, and it was about time that Colorado Springs has its own Lego store.
There are many local Lego clubs in the Pikes Peak region, and Thorne hopes to provide them with a central hub where they can promote (and hold) meetings and events. He explained that many in the Springs travel to Denver to interact with other Lego fans. Denver has a strong Lego community, including the active Denver Lego User’s Group (DEN-LUG). One goal of Thorne’s is to establish a satellite group in Colorado Springs and to act as a hub for any smaller local groups that would like to connect or use the store for events or meetings.
Building for the Future
Thorne plans to hold more events in the coming months and has some in the works. The first couple has already gone well, including their opening celebration and a meet and greet with a local builder who provided their intricate Star Trek display.
Soon, Thorne expects to begin holding monthly “make and take” events for kids. They are also now accepting bookings for Lego-themed birthday parties. Thorne is looking to collaborate with people in the LEGO community, including clubs, to plan future events as well. Those interested can follow the store on social media or at their website, https://bricksandminifigs.com/northcoloradosprings-co/.
