ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Despite a series of nationwide thefts targeting Lego, a small business owner is undeterred and determined to succeed when he opens his Bricks & Minifigs franchise in Issaquah next month.
After about a year of planning, Edward Highfield has set a grand opening date of Saturday, Aug. 3.
"It's hard to not to have it at the top of mind, opening a store like this," he told KING 5. "It's definitely a concern and it's taken hold of my brain in terms of how I plan the store, some of the secret sauce in terms of the security I'm implementing."
On Thursday, authorities announced the owner of a Eugene, Oregon, hobby store was arrested for allegedly purchasing more than $200,000 worth of stolen Lego products. In May, police in Davis, California, announced two men were arrested for stealing $80,000 worth of box sets from Wal-Mart and Target stores.
Similar incidents have been reported in other states over the last several months.
"When you have a high-value product like this that has built in scarcity [when] these sets retire, they appreciate. They become hard to find, they become highly desirable. That's become widely known and as that becomes more widely known, thieves are figuring that out," Highfield said.
But he added those are the same reasons he's excited to introduce his store to the community.
"You have Star Wars, Marvel, DC, whatever sort of fandom you lean into, there's a set for you. It's the creative aspect of being able to build something you love. That appeals to Lego fans of all ages," said Highfield.
Part of Highfield's inspiration is his 5-year-old daughter.
"Building with her and seeing her get creative with the bricks — she doesn't even follow directions, she free wheels and builds whatever she wants — that's amazing to watch," he said. "She's so excited her dad is opening a Lego store, she gets to have this experience after school come and hang out out at the toy store. I wanted to bring that to everyone."
Bricks & Minifigs Issaquah has a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 3. For more information, visit bricksandminifigsissaquah.com.