Update:

Finished most of it. Just need to get 2x1 and 3x1 brown tiles to finish tiling the floor.

I removed the escalators so you can see my first floor a little better. I added a rack of shirts and a rack of pants.

Second Floor

Third Floor

I was immediately impressed with cimddwc's enlarged buildings. Especially the Grand Emporium. Here is the inspiration. http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/217879

It always bothered me that the stock GE only has one set of escalators. If it goes up, how do they go down?

Thanks to cimddwc for posting more pictures so I could analyze and replicate his build. The stars aligned and right when I saw cimddwc's post I picked up a second Grand Emporium for $80 off Craigslist. It was opened box but sealed bags. Thanks to my friend Otto for alerting me to the ad.

Anyway I spent all day with my Grand Emporium and scrutinizing cimddwc's pictures to try and best replicate his enlarged Grand Emporium.

Here is my work in progress.

With any serious renovation you have to make room by tearing down walls.

I started by laying out the sidewalk and setting up the second entrance.

First floor extension walls partially built.

I liked how cimddwc used CMFs on display. So I decided on SW figs.

As I was building cimddwc's GE, I came across a dilemma. The pair of escalators could either be in the center leading up to the second floor or be centered to the secondary entrance. I decided that it would make more sense to have the escalators centered at the second entrance. I also embellished with some tile work that resembles the secondary entrance design by cimddwc.

So here is what a customer would see as they enter the second entrance.

A shot from inside.

My completed first floor.

I didnt like repeating "SHOP" so I was able to rearrange the plates to say "LEGO"

My second floor. The wrap around windows above the secondary entrance was a bit challenging.

Here is the current state of things. Working on completing the third floor.

This is from the NY Time Square TRU.

So I decided my Grander Emporium should have it's own Hulk statue as well.

eventually I want to tile the floor. I am also thinking if it would be possible to have the escalators point toward the revolving doors. So that they would be rotated 45 degress. Should be interesting. I will update when I have more progress.

Edited June 3, 201212 yr by Solscud007

I like what you have done so far, like the Hulk and LEGO sign. Question can you get another emporium for $80? as would snap you hand off for that price :)

Looking good I especially like the view from the minifigs perspective of the second entrance, anticipating the finished project

I like what you have done so far, like the Hulk and LEGO sign. Question can you get another emporium for $80? as would snap you hand off for that price :)

I doubt it. The guy who sold it said he got it as a gift. Not sure why the box was opened but the bags were untouched. I tried to see if he had any more LEGO sets for sale. But he said "Not at this time" Im not sure if that means he isnt selling or he doesnt have any to sell.

Impressive! The second GE at that price is an awesome deal.

The love the exterior side shot. It will look really neat when it is all said and done. I like the side entrance, but I don't like how close the escalators are to the door once you walk in. The curves windows above the second entrance look good, but I'm not sure why they are necessary. Yes, it is a second entrance, but it probably doesn't have to look as grand as the revolving door entrance.

Keep up the great work. I can't wait to see the rest.

This makes me want to buy two more, one for each side!

Impressive! The second GE at that price is an awesome deal.

The love the exterior side shot. It will look really neat when it is all said and done. I like the side entrance, but I don't like how close the escalators are to the door once you walk in. The curves windows above the second entrance look good, but I'm not sure why they are necessary. Yes, it is a second entrance, but it probably doesn't have to look as grand as the revolving door entrance.

Keep up the great work. I can't wait to see the rest.

This makes me want to buy two more, one for each side!

Thanks. Yeah the deal was great. Technically though if I bought 2 Grand Emporiums or any Modular Building at the NY Time SQ TRU during a BOGO 50% off, then the second building would only be $75. I did that with the Fire Brigade and Pet Shop the last time they had that bogo 50% off.

Yes the tight space of the Escalators is a bit cramped. Which is why Im thinking of moving the escalators 90 degrees or even better, 45 degrees.

Nice to see my mod progressing so nicely. :) Yeah, the escalators being so close to the entrance is a bit odd, so I'm looking forward to any better solution you can find.

And I'm getting envious of your low prices...

Nice to see my mod progressing so nicely. :) Yeah, the escalators being so close to the entrance is a bit odd, so I'm looking forward to any better solution you can find.

And I'm getting envious of your low prices...

Hehe, I am lucky. My friend Otto, who told me about the $80 Craigslist ad for my second GE, is the one who told me about the NY Time SQ TRU. It is TRU's flagship store. So they stock bigger LEGO like SSD and the modular buildings. However I have the worst luck at that store. When I went they only had the Firebrigade. I had to go to FAO Schwarz to buy the Petshop, walk back to TRU and return the Petshop so I can buy them both (Petshop and Fire Brigade) at the BOGO 50% off discount. TRU owns FAO. However no one was even sure if this would work because no one has ever tried, according to the customer service representative.

I think turning the first floor escalators 90 degrees will help. But it would require support from underneath to hold up the escalators.

Oh and you cant quite see it in these pictures but the first floor escalators are the only set that is off center (to the floor). the 2nd floor escalators are centered to the hole in the floor. If that makes sense.

Edited May 29, 201212 yr by Solscud007

Interesting redesign 'Solscud007', I agree about only one escalator in the original GE !

I look forward to updates, looks like it will be a cool modified GE !

Preety cool

Nice addition to your GE!

i like all the lego stuff in the background of your pictures... looks like a warehouse...lol

Looking great! I honestly don't think the escalators look that bad. Sometimes you have to sacrifice function over looks. Hopefully your other solution will work though. I can't wait to see the finished model and your take on cimddwcs model. Are you making any big changes or is it going to mirror cimddwc GE?

Updated with finished pictures. I had to scrounge for a few plates to finish the roof. The wrap around windows are very insecure. Im not too please with it. I added some things on the first floor but I need to flesh out the second and third floors.

This is great. I love how you expanded it.

The tiled floors make it look a lot nicer and the Hulk statue is a great detail.

This is fantastic! I'm just now getting into LEGO (my Grand Emporium arrives tomorrow) but eventually I hope to have enough pieces saved up so I can do something like this. I love your first floor especially--I wish I could make a clothes rack! The only customization I'll really be able to do at this point is incorporate my CMFs into the set.

Great MOC, you combined the pieces of the Grand Emporium set well.

Very nice work!! The Hulk, along with the other super hero mini-figs are a nice touch.

-Mike

I know that tread is old but any chance you have some more insight in how you build the curvy windows over the lego logo? I'm trying to recreate it with a lot of try&error :)

Nice work. What I'm missing is a Pick-A-Brick wall. Might be nice to have it in the upper floor on one of the empty walls.

Looks absolutely amazing. I like how you did not "just" expand the current design, but gave it something to break up the layout. Well done!

awesome job looks great! I wish i could find deals like that in Australia! $80 for a modular is amazing!! Love your work here tho :D