May 13, 2022

Sioux Falls Lego lovers: The wait is almost over.

The new store Bricks & Minifigs is scheduled to open May 21 in a retail center on the northeast corner of 41st Street and Kiwanis Avenue.

The space that most recently was Arthur Johnson Shoes has been transformed into a Lego-lover’s paradise, filled with new, like-new and used inventory.

“It’s plentiful,” said Jenn Dean, who owns the local franchise with her husband, Ryan. “We have a huge selection of both current retail new in box, retired new in box; we have lots of used sets and certified used sets.”

Certified used sets are validated as fully complete sets with all pieces and instructions in a sealed box.

A buying event last week was “extremely successful,” Dean said. “We had lots of inventory come in, both bulk and used sets, we had some great new in box sets, so we had an overwhelming response from the community.”

Shoppers will find the store opens with an extensive vintage castle collection from the 1990s and 2000s and a “huge selection of Star Wars,” Dean said. “Both new in box, retired new in box and used sets.”

And if you’re a fan of the Lego miniature figures, or minifigs, there are tons of those too.

“We will have at least one complete set of every Lego series minifigs collection from one to 22, plus the subthemes, so we’re really excited,” Dean said.

The grand opening also will feature a custom Sioux Falls minifig free for the first 50 customers, plus a variety of door prizes.

There also will be an appearance by “Lego Masters” contestant Jen Smart, who will sign autographs May 21, sell some products and “talk anything and everything Lego with anyone who’d like to have a conversation with her,” Dean said.

Beginning May 23, the store will book birthday parties to start in June and will start buying more inventory from customers.

For customers who want to sell more than three or four bulk totes to Bricks & Minifigs or “an obsessive amount of built items or new in box sets,” the store prefers sellers make an appointment. Otherwise, walk-in sales are welcome, and sellers are offered both a cash price and a price for store credit that doesn’t expire.

Here are some tips to get the most for your Legos:

• The store will evaluate your sets, bulk and minifigs based on several factors, including condition, demand and quantity, and then make you an offer.
• You’ll be offered the most for built sets with as many original pieces, figs and instructions as you have.
• Bulk pieces are purchased by quantity and quality, so the more cool Lego pieces you have – and the less non-Lego items mixed in – the more the store pays. Minifig values vary vastly depending on condition, completeness and current stock.

Bricks & Minifigs has finished hiring for the new store.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.