Set #40305 The LEGO Store: Originally I believe this set was a free giveaway with a certain threshold amount, but after time became physically available to purchase in LEGO stores and through LEGO Shop@Home. This is definitely a first for me, reviewing a LEGO Store as a model, true the LEGO VIP set featured a LEGO store build, but this is an actual structure and not simply a vignette.

Box/Instructions

Box: The packaging for this set is your standard LEGO Store exclusive design. Using classic LEGO system colours of yellow and the imagery of a LEGO brick seen from above at the top. The model is shown predominantly in the front with a shadowy city in the background indicating this store can be found in any metropolis or Metropolis. The back shows some nice shots of all the details of the set.

Instructions: Very nicely done manual. Easy to understand and follow along with you’ll enjoy building your very own LEGO Store as you turn each page. Mine was unfortunately smashed into the box though so it does have a bit of warping going on, which is unfortunate.

Parts

Nothing in this set is printed except for the 2x4 computer screen tiles, so it’s a pristine parts pack loaded with plates, bricks, flags, sloped and curved elements in mostly white, yellow or grey with a few blue and red coloured elements thrown in for a bit of contrast. Really impressed with the amount of parts in the set honestly.

Minifigures

Father: It’s Chris Pratt, or at least the hair is one introduced for Owen in LEGO Jurassic World. The rest of the parts are common, I’ve seen the bearded face on a lot of LEGO City Firefighters and the torso has a nice flower print design for the outer shirt.

Son: All of these parts have been used multiple times in LEGO City and LEGO Seasonal Vignette sets. Nothing much else to say, standard prints and the like for both Minifigures included in this set.

The build

Bag #1 & #2: Unlike with most numbered bag sets this one has you use two numbered bags at once when building, so it’s best to keep the pieces sorted accurately and not lose any. The first two bags let’s you build the first floor with the two customers. It’s a truly modular build, I’ve used the term to describe building sets from bag to bag, but Modular Sets traditionally means you can make modules and attach them in any configuration you desire.

This means you can get multiples of a set like this and build your own levels to make taller buildings. Anyway, this build is really straight forward and fun. Easy to follow along with, though sticker placement is a huge factor here for all of the LEGO sets in the set are stickered 1x2 bricks. (And the sticker sheet likes to peel off the wrong sticker when you’re pulling for a different one you need.

Bag #3 & #4: The top floor and the roof are built with these two bags. Also the plates and extra bricks included in a separate un-numbered bag. All of the steps are easy to follow along with and the only annoying aspect will probably be the placement of stickers.

The completed model

The LEGO Store is a magical place in the real world, and an even more magical place in the LEGO world. What does that mean? Well, it’s kind of surreal to see LEGO represent themselves as a LEGO store selling LEGO in LEGO to LEGO Minifigures.

Everything is represented in this model, buildable displays, make-a-Minifigure station, the shelves lined with sets, the Pick-A-Brick wall, the cash register and the bins where you can find larger accessory items sold in LEGO stores, or the building stations for younger builders.

It’s a three-sided model, the back is opened for play, the modular nature of the model means you can take the upper floors off and play that way. The side-walls with windows on either floor are also modular, so you can remove them and place them wherever you’d like. Although it’d be strange to find the ATM anywhere else but on the ground floor.

Aside from the multiple configuration options based on the modular build design there are no play features. No stud-shooters, flick-fire missiles or trap doors. Which is just fine for the subject matter.

Overall opinion

This is a really great set. Love the modular nature and the multiple options to place the modules anyway you’d prefer. The only issue I have is there isn’t more to the roof, if you had the option to make a longer roof you could put the two large modules back to back and make a fully enclosed single-story LEGO store model, though that’s what buying multiples of this set is for. The level of detail in the model is also very impressive with a model on display on the ground floor of a city or some kind of LEGO town and a boat and fire engine on the top floor. Overall I strongly recommend getting this set.