A north Durham couple brings Lego lovers together to hunt for rare sets, design custom minifigures and rediscover the joy of building
By Lauren Rouse | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Shoppers wander into Bricks & Minifigs searching for gifts or nostalgia – and sometimes just to meet James and Jenna, the Great Danes who’ve become the store’s beloved mascots. Inside, laughter mingles with the soft clicks of Lego pieces as owners Anne Grandel and Demetrius Grandel share the joy that building together can spark.
Bricks & Minifigs opened Sept. 7, 2024, joining a network of independently owned stores across the country that specialize in all things Lego. This local franchise introduces the buy-sell-trade concept to Durham, offering everything from new and retired sets to bins of bulk bricks where builders can hunt for that one missing piece. Customers can even design their own minifigure at the in-store maker station or browse the black box theater, a rotating showcase of custom creations from local builders.
The shop represents a creative second act for Anne and Demetrius after years on the road. Before moving to the area, Demetrius worked as a Broadway sound engineer while Anne sold merchandise for touring productions – with their pups in tow. When theaters shut down during the pandemic, the couple turned to Lego for fun and focus, completing more than 60 sets together. “I grew up with Lego,” Demetrius says. “The space sets, the castle sets – I was into them all the time when I was a kid, and I got out of them. When I wasn’t working, I just fell back into Lego.”
Anne’s favorite sets are the botanicals. “One of the first things I got her on tour is a Lego rose, because it’s not going to die,” Demetrius says. “Every week, she’d take it apart, and then put it back together in the next city.”
Their shared hobby soon led to something bigger. While traveling for work, the couple discovered multiple Bricks & Minifigs locations across the country. They connected with the company’s simple philosophy – rebuild, reuse, reimagine – especially the idea of giving old sets new life. “We’d go to every store we could,” Anne says. “The setup is generally the same, but what’s inside is always different because it depends on what people bring in.”
When the couple decided to settle down, Durham felt like the perfect fit. The Grandels visited often during Broadway tours at the Durham Performing Arts Center, and the city’s vibrant energy charmed them every time. “We’re from the Northeast and lived in Florida for 15 years before this, so we wanted to come halfway for the weather,” Anne says. “We knew Durham was home to Research Triangle Park and biotech companies with engineers and people who like to build.”
They found an ideal spot in the Willowdale Shopping Center, where they could create room for everything – an open sales floor, a dedicated event space and an area for processing incoming bricks. Bricks & Minifigs thrives on constant change. Every trade-in reshapes the shelves. The best way to bring in a Lego set is either unopened and sealed or fully built. Sets that arrive opened are rebuilt to ensure all the pieces are there. “I count every single piece, re-bag it, and then seal it as a certified used set,” Demetrius says. Store manager Tyler Russell, who moved with the Grandels to help launch the store, keeps the floor stocked and organized, from managing trade-ins to refreshing displays as new sets arrive. Regulars come weekly to sift through bins, searching for the perfect part. “They can come here and feel like it’s a safe space for them to hang out and get bricks,” Anne says. “We have people who come in with the refillable containers and spend hours.”
Shoppers can follow the store’s social media accounts, including Instagram and Facebook, to get the latest updates. Looking for something specific? “We keep a wish list,” Anne says. If someone wants a particular set, the shop’s team will call them when it comes in.
Bricks & Minifigs also occasionally offers creative workshops, like beginner stop-motion animation classes led by sales associate Tye Echols. Participants learn how to bring minifigures to life frame by frame using just a phone camera – another way the store encourages imagination beyond the build. The shop’s event room also hosts birthday parties where kids can build derby cars, race friends and take home custom minifigures.
For the Grandels, it all comes back to that simple mission of bringing joy. “I just want people to remember why they love building,” Demetrius says. “What was enjoyable about it, either when they were a kid or showing their kid? That’s the whole point – it’s enjoyable to be creative.”
