KIRKWOOD, Mo. — A Lego resale shop recently opened in Kirkwood. It’s not just a place to buy and sell tiny plastic bricks – it’s a place for people of all ages to come and play.
The owners of ‘The Minifig Shop’ spent the last decade building their business brick by brick.
After buying and selling Lego toys online, Michael and Kelly Atwood decided it was time to open a brick and mortar store, which can be found on the corner of Kirkwood Road and Madison Avenue in downtown Kirkwood.
“We are a Lego resale shop. Pretty much anything Lego brand, has Lego written on it, we are going to buy and resell.”
Minifig, as in mini figures, was inspired by the owner’s son, who is on the autism spectrum.
“He’s always been hyper focused on one thing. He went through a period of about five years where Lego was it.”
You’ll find tables filled with Lego bricks, which turn into a treasure hunt for people looking for the perfect piece.
“We intended it to be ‘hands on’ because that’s something online can’t do.”
Helen Bussen takes her grandkids to Minifig at least three days a week. Not only do they play at the store, but they usually take home a box filled with Lego pieces for an affordable price. “When you come in here, you can build a box like this for five or six dollars. Where else can you go for that amount of money, that amount of time, let them play, and take it home?”
Elijah Lemon, 12, of Houston, Texas is also Lego-obsessed. There is a Lego store where he’s from, but he says this is a new experience. “The stuff in the mall – it’s a Lego store, so you just buy sets. This place, they have a bunch of Minifigs to build your own Minifig. You can buy a Minifig separate to the set they come in, which is cool.”
There are 25,000 mini figures in this store and 4,000 pounds of bulk Lego.
The store will also buy Lego products, new or used.
“If you don’t feel like carrying in huge tubs of Lego, I put my text number on the website. They text me a few pictures, I text an offer. They know it’s sold before they come in.”
Little bricks, big obsession.
Minifig Shop is located at 200 South Kirkwood Road. For more information, call (314) 698-2081, visit theminifigshop.com, or check it out on Facebook.