Lego store pictures!

[Lego Otaku]

I searched for this but didn't find any topic matching this so probably no one ever discussed what a Lego store is like. When I went there Monday to raid their PAB, I also had my camera with me and took a few pictures. This is mostly for people who has never been to one.

As usual, click on thumbnail to see larger images

The front of the store at The Somerset Collection in Troy, MI.

Row and rows of assorted Lego sets and a few display models.

Star Wars sets with a Death Star II on display along with a few smaller displays. Some displays are custom made and not in any official sets, as you'll see below:

One looks like a movie theater featuring a shark chasing a diver. Jaws perhaps? Other display shows a giant version of 2x2 flowers and green stems with a couple snails. I couldn't use flash as it'd produce a much worse glare than just background lights that shows up in the pictures. There are many more displays, some custom and some official sets.

And finally, my favorite section of the store:

Pick A Bricks!! They look like a bunch of gray 1x2 bricks with clear studs mounted sideway. The top 3 rows are just display, there are nothing for people to grab, and they are repeats of the same that are available at lower rows. I don't know how often the selection changes but a few got changed in the 3 days between my visits. They may rotate whenever one is out of stock, and they may rotate a few at random.

The lady on left (in yellow apron) is one of the store employee.

The employees at Troy, MI location are extremely friendly and fun to chat with when things are slow.

I've seen picture of PAB display at other Lego stores in USA, they can vary by size and numbers of "studs"

Not photographed: mini-fig stand where you can pick out parts to assemble your own minifig, 3 for $10. Also a table with bunch of Lego bricks, some baseplates, and few computers running LDD

If you lived near one, it is worth driving to visit them. If you don't know where they are, you could check the store locator at Lego.com (USA, UK, Germany, and Canada, no idea about oversea stores)

I would like to go there a lot if only to bug the employees but it is 3 hours drive (round trip) there and home so unless I had a reason to be in northern part of Detroit Metro area, I can't go there. The next nearest store is in Ohio and would be about 5 hours drive for me just to get there

Edited October 7, 2010 by Lego Otaku

[Mrlegoninja]

Nice! I have never been to a LEGO store(unless you count LEGOLAND ). I will definetly have to visit one!

[prateek]

Great pics. It's interesting to know that the top three rows in the PaB are for show. I've been wondering that for some while now. I really want to go to a Lego store now, but the closest one is 6 hours away! (this one)

[drevim]

Thanks for the peak at Troy's store.

I'm about 5 hours from the Chicago stores, and 4 from Cincinnati. But Chicago has 4 stores in the area, so it may be worth the extra hour.

If anyone has experience in the ones in Chicago, I'd like to know if one is better than the others.

[Big Cam]

Thanks for the pictures, it kind of makes me jealous because I am 10 hours away from the closest one.

I also found the info very informative. Its almost like a review.

[Scorpio]

If anyone has experience in the ones in Chicago, I'd like to know if one is better than the others.

If you want to go to the city, the Chicago store is fun to go to. It is usually busy and has an ok selection

The Orland Park store is usually not busy and has a good amount in stock.

The Northbrook store has a big PaB wall and a good selection.

The Schaumburg store has a great PaB wall with really friendly staff who will be willing to go in the back and find specific parts for you if they are not on the wall.

I have been to all of the stores and my personal ranking is Schaumburg, Northbrook, Orland Park, and finally Chicago

[freakwave]

For those frequent store-goers: I do not know if this has been posted before, there is a site BRICKBUILDR which features the Pick-a-Brick inventories! Some of them are outdated a bit but with a bit of community effort, those can be kept up to date!

fW

[Modulex Guy]

Thanks for the peak at Troy's store.

I'm about 5 hours from the Chicago stores, and 4 from Cincinnati. But Chicago has 4 stores in the area, so it may be worth the extra hour.

If anyone has experience in the ones in Chicago, I'd like to know if one is better than the others.

I've been to all Chicagoland stores, many many many times, here is my ranking of the stores:

Schaumburg: is the best, large turnaround of PaB and great selection of sets, staff is great, as one of us here on EB works there.

Northbrook: bigger store, great stock of sets and again a nice large PaB wall.

Orland Park: like all the others with sets, great selection, plenty in stock, though the PaB wall is sometimes not the best selection out there.

Chicago: been to this store once, tiny PaB wall, selection of sets, but its in DownTown Chicago and unless you are spending the day in Chicago doing something else, its not worth going to just the LEGO store

and Last is LEGOLAND Discovery Center: they have a small selection of PaB, not to many sets... best go across the street to the Schaumburg Woodfield store.

[Joebot]

Schaumburg: is the best, large turnaround of PaB and great selection of sets, staff is great, as one of us here on EB works there.

I work about five minutes away from the Schaumburg store, and have been there many, many times. I agree whole-heartedly with Polish Guy's comment. It's not a huge store, and on weekends it can get really crowded, but the selection is good, and the workers are very nice. When I was in there last month with my Collectible Mini-figs barcode cheat sheet, I had a nice time chatting with them as I painstakingly studied barcodes.

[Mr. Elijah Timms]

I've never really thought about it until reading this thread-- I've never actually been to a Lego store. Which is, of course, probably for the best Thanks for the clever post

[not-in-use-anymore]

I've been to the one down in Orlando once, about a fourth of it was filled up by people with walkers or wheelchairs.

My closest Lego store(luckily it's not a 2 hour trip there or anything ) is alot wider than the one in the pics(Unless it's just the angle?). I'd like to see a picture of one outside of a mall.

[charlieboy]

Im very lucky to have a Lego shop in my home town,i'd go everyday day if the wife would let me!

[Lego Otaku]

I've been to the one down in Orlando once, about a fourth of it was filled up by people with walkers or wheelchairs.

My closest Lego store(luckily it's not a 2 hour trip there or anything ) is alot wider than the one in the pics(Unless it's just the angle?). I'd like to see a picture of one outside of a mall.

The first picture in my initial post is the front of the store. It does look a bit small, maybe 20 feet wide

[Masked Builder]

While I've never lived near one (okay I lived near one for two months but I only went twice ) I've been to the one near my Grandmothers house all of the time. I must admit I really like them. Now the closest one to me is over 3 hours away.

[CP5670]

I have been to the Tysons Corner and Arundel Mills stores. One of the Tysons employees is an old school space fan and likes my MOCs, so we talk a bit whenever I go there. There are also a couple in the NY/NJ area that are actually closer to me, so I'll probably visit them at some point.

It would be good if there was a way to see what the PAB walls have before you go to a Lego store. In most cases, the PAB walls are the only reason for me to go there, but I don't want to spend a hour commuting and find out that they have nothing useful.

[drevim]

If you want to go to the city, the Chicago store is fun to go to. It is usually busy and has an ok selection

The Orland Park store is usually not busy and has a good amount in stock.

The Northbrook store has a big PaB wall and a good selection.

The Schaumburg store has a great PaB wall with really friendly staff who will be willing to go in the back and find specific parts for you if they are not on the wall.

I have been to all of the stores and my personal ranking is Schaumburg, Northbrook, Orland Park, and finally Chicago

I've been to all Chicagoland stores, many many many times, here is my ranking of the stores:

Schaumburg: is the best, large turnaround of PaB and great selection of sets, staff is great, as one of us here on EB works there.

Northbrook: bigger store, great stock of sets and again a nice large PaB wall.

Orland Park: like all the others with sets, great selection, plenty in stock, though the PaB wall is sometimes not the best selection out there.

Chicago: been to this store once, tiny PaB wall, selection of sets, but its in DownTown Chicago and unless you are spending the day in Chicago doing something else, its not worth going to just the LEGO store

and Last is LEGOLAND Discovery Center: they have a small selection of PaB, not to many sets... best go across the street to the Schaumburg Woodfield store.

I work about five minutes away from the Schaumburg store, and have been there many, many times. I agree whole-heartedly with Polish Guy's comment. It's not a huge store, and on weekends it can get really crowded, but the selection is good, and the workers are very nice. When I was in there last month with my Collectible Mini-figs barcode cheat sheet, I had a nice time chatting with them as I painstakingly studied barcodes.

Thanks guys, seems pretty unamimous. I know we'll be in the greater area to hit the Field museum and visit friends in the next month or so. Will make the trip to Schaumburg for sure, and maybe squeeze in Northbrook too.

[BearHeart]

I've been to the Schaumburg store (North Chicago)a couple times and once to the one in Natick (near Boston). The staff are very friendly in both stores.

[LegoDad42]

Here's links to store pics I've taken of the Grand Opening at Rockefeller Center...

LEGO STORE Rockefeller Center GRAND Opening!

Link to LEGO Store at the Queens Center Mall Grand Opening...

LEGO STORE Queens Center Mall GRAND Opening!

Link to the LEGO Store Elmhurst (Queens Center Mall Store) that I update every couple of week with Store Events, Club Meetings, Monthly Mini-Builds, etc.

LEGO STORE Elmhurst Queens!

The Queens Store staff are extremely friendly and run great club meetings and the mini-builds. Always feels like I'm at a convention with their events. Loads of fun!