Lego lovers everywhere will want to stop by the JB Brick Company in Hermiston today and Saturday as it celebrates its five-year anniversary with activities and contests for all ages.
Located on Main Street in Hermiston, JB Brick Company opened in August 2019 shortly after owners Julie and Bobby Lara moved to Hermiston.
“It’s hard to find a Lego store around here, so we decided to open one,” Julie Lara said.
The couple had been living in the Albany-Corvallis area until Bobby’s job brought them to Hermiston. Julie Lara has been an avid Lego enthusiast since her childhood and regularly shopped at an independent Lego store in Corvallis. When she learned the owner was selling her business, Julie and Bobby stepped and bought her inventory.
The business opened right before the COVID pandemic hit, and while they had to shut down for a month, Lara said the pandemic actually benefitted the business.
“People were tired of doing crossword puzzles and started looking for new things to do,” she said.
The inventory is kept in a back room with bins filled with literally hundreds of thousands of Lego pieces. Lara said she has 400,000 pieces, 10,000 of which are unique parts.
“When people are doing a custom build, they might be looking for one specific piece,” she said. “We probably have it. This room is like the back of a Napa Auto Parts store.”
Lego originated in Denmark in the 1930s. The name is derived from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means ”play well.” Its popularity grew in the 1990s when the company began licensing themes from cartoons and movies. Lara said the Lego craze really took off when it began licensing Star Wars-themed sets.
“Fifty percent of our customers are Star Wars people,” she said.
And Lego is not just for kids, Lara said.
“Anywhere from 3 to 103,” she said. “I have an 85-year-old woman who comes in and buys pieces. She treats them like puzzles.”
Some Lego sets can get pricey, but many of them, particularly Star Wars sets, hold their value and are sought after by collectors. For example, the Star Wars Cloud City set from 2003 can fetch up to $12,000.
Andy Hermanns, 19, was hired by Lara for his expertise in all things Star Wars. He had been a regular customer prior to getting hired.
“As a kid, Lego was one of the best things I ever experienced,” he said. “I was always sad that we didn’t have a Lego store in Hermiston.” When JB Brick Company opened five years ago, he called it a “dream come true.” Each Saturday, he and his family would come down to Main Street and shop the store.
“I thought, ‘Great, I can finally nerd out!’”
The JB Brick Company is capping off its three-day celebration on Saturday with a 100 Brick Speed Build Contest. Each contestant is given 100 random Lego bricks and 20 minutes to build a creation. Judges will determine the winners, who will be announced on Aug. 7.
There are three age groups, 5-9, 10-17 and 18 and over. The first-place winner in each age group will win a $25 gift certificate.
To enter, simply stop by JB Brick Company, 295 E. Main St., suite 1E, during the open house hours. The store is open today from noon to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3.
For more information, visit the JB Brick Company website.
