Beyond expectations

East Kildonan

Sometimes, a Lego build can really take on a life of its own.

When Jason Poturica, 46, and Justin Durkin, 45, opened Little Brick Market, a new and used Lego shop, in a small, second-floor space at 680 Watt St. in March, the two friends knew they were onto something. But they weren’t quite prepared for just how much the local Lego community would respond.

“The last seven months has really showed us what kind of community the Lego community is,” Durkin said. “Building their own things, meeting new people, us being a hub to do so has been really enriching.”

“It’s really endearing. A lot of kids have brought in their builds, and we’ll take pictures and put them on Instagram, and they get super excited and inspires them to build more,” Poturica said. “That’s one of my favourite moments, when people bring in their builds. It’s really cool to talk about their designs with them. To see that joy inspires me to build more.”

This summer, Little Brick Market moved everything downstairs, taking up residence in the main floor of the building, where We Heart Winnipeg’s retail space once stood. On Sept. 20, the shop held a grand re-opening event that drew over 600 people.

“To be in a larger space has really helped us expand and display a lot more items that we’ve acquired. Being in that small room was a big difference in what we could actually offer our customers,” Durkin said. “Not being wheelchair accessible was a hindrance for some customers. The main thing, having lineups of customers who couldn’t even enter the store to browse. It was a really great place to start. It allowed us to get a feel for the market and the community, and how maybe any of our doubts were assuaged.”

“It’s really nice to see the transition to this space,” Poturica added. “It seems to bring out the child in everyone. It’s really fun to see all the people from different walks of life come in and share their passion for Lego and their joy. It makes it a great place to be.”

Lego lovers can discover new and used sets for sale at Little Brick Market. They can also find vintage pieces, or trade in their old sets for cash or credit. One key feature of the new space is a large ‘pick-a-brick’ table that is consistently stocked with a variety of Lego bricks from all eras and styles.

“It has been really popular,” Poturica said. “Lots of parents and kids come here, hang out on the stools, and pick through the bricks to find what they need to be creative. It’s been a lot of fun. We throw all kinds of bricks in here. So you never know what you’re doing to find. You might find something specific you’re looking for, or maybe something from your own childhood or past.”

Anyone familiar with one of the more colourful buildings in East Kildonan will have noticed an addition to the mural along Watt Street, as well.

“We’ve got this beautiful mural that Rachel Lancaster painted,” Poturica said. “People come in off the street to comment on that, how nice it makes the building and the community look.”

The Little Brick Market is open Wednesday to Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, find The Little Brick Market on Instagram.