Modular Building 10243 Parisian Restaurant (2014 Modular Building)

[AFOLguy1970]

Nesquick,

I think you have the right idea. Outdoor seating would be expected in a set like this. As for minifigs, you would at minimum expect a waiter, a chef, and at least two customers. For the interior, I imagine some more indoor seating and the kitchen. Agreed that the second level will likely not be part of the restaurant. Hoping for the nice little details like the wine bottles. I think they should also have bread on the table as this is the custom of the real thing. As for the color scheme, it is anyone's guess. I would just expect that the architecture would appear to be Parisian. An Art Nouveau Metro entrance outside the restaurant would be great (no vehicle this time).

[kermit]

Will it be a three or two storey building. I do picture it having a balcony on the second floor overlooking the street with lots of plants.

[Andy D]

Personally, I would expect the Parisian Restaurant to be a significant upgrade from the original Café Corner. The product line has matured to such a degree that Jamie and the other designers will want to revisit earlier products, and essentially say to themselves "Okay - we understand the demand for these buildings, and have crossed paths with a nice selection of architectural styles from around the world. So how can we improve on them in todays climate?".

Wow! It looks like you put a lot of thought into this. I hope you are right!

Thinking about some of what you said... "Cafe Corner testing the waters" and that the target audience is the AFOL, and that they will use many of the dark blue pieces that are in the Winter Vilage Market (makes a lot of sense, why introduce the parts just for the WVM).

I really hope you are right, you predictions sound like an interesting building... I'll take 2!

Andy D

Edited September 24, 2013 by Andy D

[Redhead1982]

It's interesting to read these predictions, as each of us has a different ''picture'' of what a Parisian Restaurant should look like. I ''see it'' as a building with outdoor sitting, and an appartment above the restaurant. A balcony with flowers would be a nice addition. Regarding colour scheme, I can easily imagine detailed facade with some grey stone and colourful awning - perhaps dark red.

[nesquik]

Wow! It looks like you put a lot of thought into this. I hope you are right!

Thinking about some of what you said... "Cafe Corner testing the waters" and that the target audience is the AFOL, and that they will use many of the dark blue pieces that are in the Winter Vilage Market (makes a lot of sense, why introduce the parts just for the WVM).

I really hope you are right, you predictions sound like an interesting building... I'll take 2!

Andy D

Thanks! I've worked in Lego retail for a number of years now, and even though it's still relatively young project for the company, we have an open understanding of why (and how) products come to fruition.

'Exclusives' tend to be the last products we hear about in advance, so I'm just as excited as anyone else But like I said, I believe the Parisian Restaurant could be an important release as the designers now understand the importance of interior detail and playability; this had be learned through experience, however. The latter should not come as a surprise even for adults, because the smallest details draw attention to things that we associate with in the real world. That is why the Grand Emporium, in my experience, has not been as attractive to parents as the Pet Shop, which is literally drooled over by many happy couples!

Another factor that demonstrates this maturity is the Creator Expert branding, for the company is putting a lot of faith in using the 'Expert' analogy as a way of measuring not just the difficulty level of the build, but perhaps more importantly, the interests of the customer. Before we had this, you can appreciate how disjointed the Exclusive branding was (or partially continues to be), because the product in question was visually not part of a paradigm or system. A customer has absolutely no means to appreciate who a product is targeted for, and this creates limitations when merchandising.

Now though, the box art can clearly lend more personality to the product in question because it is unobtrusive, and I think this is proven beautifully with the Palace Cinema, Horizon Express and Winter Village Market - all of which stand out as unique models in their own sub-themes. With the Parisian Restaurant,rwe can equally expect a very atmospheric and engaging set of artwork that leaps off the packaging.

But that's all from me anyway. Again, I'd love to read of anyone else's expectations!

[GregD]

If there is to be a new colour then I'm going to hazard a guess at light flesh bricks, since a lot of buildings in Paris are light coloured. Although tan would probably be more accurate. And olive green for the awning...

[dvsntt]

I was hoping for a picture of this set. I am very excited about this one.

[SFmuscle73]

I have been thinking about this quite a bit & I suppose one possibility is the following. Perhaps it may have a similar design to the Market Street Set. It may be a one 3-story building that is 16 studs wide and the remaining 16 studs of the baseplate will be an outside dining area open to the sky, yet enclosed/arcaded from the street. I suppose the dining area would have direct access from the street and the bottom level of the 3-story building would be a grand kitchen with many interesting building techniques for appliances. The upper 2-stories would be fully furnished residential (since the piece count is lower with less bricks for the single building) with the apartment entry off the street level. There were three ideas that lead me to my thoughts above. First a Parisian Restaurant typically has outdoor dining and the idea above covers that. Second the front of the modular building traditional aligns with the adjacent modular buildings and therefore limits seating vs. pedestrian sidewalk access. Finally, trying to cram an entry to the apartment, an entry to the restaurant and tables with chairs would get at most two tables outside, and I think a restaurant would want to have more seating than that. Those are my thoughts Nesquick!

[Herky]

Appreciate reading the thoughts of where this will go, I for one would be excited to get any of your ideas, my only contribution since it is a Parisian restaurant, and it was sort of mentioned before is a bit of an homage to Ratatouille to just stick a rat in there somewhere, out back maybe, just as a bit of a humorous tilt. Really excited to get it though, for us that did not get Cafe Corner or Green Grocer or Market Street (kicking myself and don't have the $500-600 to add it now) adding this piece will make the street a much better place.

I would like to see more than a waiter and chef though, give it maybe 8 minifigs, 4 customers and 4 employees.

[nesquik]

I would like to see more than a waiter and chef though, give it maybe 8 minifigs, 4 customers and 4 employees.

8 minifigures is out of the question, but I think we can expect the waiter to retain many of the features that are seen in the 'Collectible Series' version (Lots of printed wine bottles and tray). A chef, waiter/waitress, 2 x customers and a delivery boy are more likely, with the latter making up the introductory build of a very small Citroen-esque delivery van.

I would also take a guess that this product will be in the £100 > £120 ball park, since Fire Brigade - which is retiring at the end of this year - has thus far filled the lower end of the pricing spectrum and needs a replacement.

Edited September 27, 2013 by nesquik

[Herky]

I wouldn't say it is out of the question, the Hobbit Hole has 6 minifigs and it is at half the price point of a modular building. But if you are going to get a delivery van in there, you would have me smiling to get fewer minifigures.

I am just tired of waiting like everyone else, think I saw this was a January release? Maybe they will do 2 next year, this and then near end of year, will replace Pet Shop.

[eurotrash]

\But if you are going to get a delivery van in there....

Eeek! Hopefully it's not by the same design team that did the Palace Cinema Limo

[nesquik]

I wouldn't say it is out of the question, the Hobbit Hole has 6 minifigs and it is at half the price point of a modular building.

That's the thing; the product you refer to is in a different product line. The number of minifigures included has to balance well with existing modular buildings, purely for merchandising.

Eeek! Hopefully it's not by the same design team that did the Palace Cinema Limo

It was a Buick, not a limo.

American cars during this period were notoriously longer and wider.

[jonwil]

Regarding color scheme, I cant remember where I heard it but I believe TLG has a rule against making basic bricks in flesh tones for some reason.

[Overcold]

If this were to have awnings (which I suppose is a good chance), since the modulars have already had yellow, blue, and dark green awnings I half expect a red one to be included. I'd also bet money (If I could), that as mentioned several times outdoor seating is typical and therefore will be added to the set. As for the backyard, perhaps a dumpster, as those seem rather common outback of many resturants I've happened to visit. I'm also expecting a good assortment of food and wine glasses, perhaps even that mouth watering Lemon Meringue Pie from the winter market!

Edited September 29, 2013 by Overcold

[McBuddha]

I can imagine a white building. Probably (hopefully) with lots of ornaments.

Edited September 29, 2013 by McBuddha

[Jctriguy]

8 minifigures is out of the question, but I think we can expect the waiter to retain many of the features that are seen in the 'Collectible Series' version (Lots of printed wine bottles and tray). A chef, waiter/waitress, 2 x customers and a delivery boy are more likely, with the latter making up the introductory build of a very small Citroen-esque delivery van.

I would also take a guess that this product will be in the £100 > £120 ball park, since Fire Brigade - which is retiring at the end of this year - has thus far filled the lower end of the pricing spectrum and needs a replacement.

Town hall had 8 minifigs, GE had 7, PC had 6, PS/FB had 4 each. So 8 for the restaurant would he high, but not out of the question.

In terms of pricing, maybe the US/CAN prices are different, but all the current modulars are $149 with Town Hall being $199. So it would be assumed that the new one would come out at $149 and come in with PS/GE/Cinema at the same price.

[Faefrost]

I think Nesquik is probably spot on. My only speculation is I still would not be surprised to see that this one is actually 2 buildings like Pet Shop. We are overdue for another 16x32 pairing to break up the block a bit. Maybe one building the Restaurant and one a Bakery at street level? With an apartment above each?

[BCanilho]

I think Nesquik is probably spot on. My only speculation is I still would not be surprised to see that this one is actually 2 buildings like Pet Shop. We are overdue for another 16x32 pairing to break up the block a bit. Maybe one building the Restaurant and one a Bakery at street level? With an apartment above each?

That would be excelent, the combo of a French Bistro and a Bakery (Boulangerie!!!)

BAGUETTES!!!

[nesquik]

That would be excelent, the combo of a French Bistro and a Bakery (Boulangerie!!!)

BAGUETTES!!!

Of course, we can't forget the baguettes! It's difficult to imagine how the food/drink elements would actually fit into the scene, but somewhere along the line we can expect them

My only speculation is I still would not be surprised to see that this one is actually 2 buildings like Pet Shop. We are overdue for another 16x32 pairing to break up the block a bit. Maybe one building the Restaurant and one a Bakery at street level? With an apartment above each?

I'd love a new 'pairing' build, but I think this time round it'll remain 32x32. The premise of these buildings is to be faithful to real life architecture, so having a tiny bakery and bistro next to each other would be odd as the product would then include two franchises, rather than one and a home.

Town hall had 8 minifigs, GE had 7, PC had 6, PS/FB had 4 each. So 8 for the restaurant would he high, but not out of the question.

In terms of pricing, maybe the US/CAN prices are different, but all the current modulars are $149 with Town Hall being $199. So it would be assumed that the new one would come out at $149 and come in with PS/GE/Cinema at the same price.

Oh I quite understand - perhaps you misinterpreted my post The correlation of pricing and minifigures is there to make the products 'appear' grander than what they are when merchandising, so if we're to presume that the Parisian Restaurant does cost between £100 and £120 (again, this seems very realistic from my position), then 5-6 minifigures would be the maximum. Even if there was an opportunity for this product to be in the £130-£150 ballpark, I can't see the restaurant benefiting from the additional bricks without it having three floors; and three floors is difficult to imagine for this product.

Again, the product line has matured a great deal since Café Corner, so the interior must play a part in the narrative of the set. If the designers can't fill that extra space with something interesting, then they simply won't force it to be there. The Pet Shop has a decorator painting an empty room for that very reason; it saves repeating a living space.

Edited September 30, 2013 by nesquik

[just2good]

Oopsie!

(private) video removed

According to Brickset, it's £133 / US$160 with 2469 pieces. I'm guessing it's getting revealed at BrickCon?

Edited October 4, 2013 by Rick

[nesquik]

(image removed)

Edited October 4, 2013 by Rick
Images should not be released yet

[KingPixels]

Here are all the pictures!

(images removed)

Edited October 4, 2013 by Rick

[Rick]

I guess it's clear by now that this set will be released by TLG in the very near future. Please do not post any pictures before the official release date.

edit:

Official press release by TLG can be found here.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Rick