Owners Michael and Jenni Jensen have four children, all of whom grown up using LEGO bricks to build and create. So when Michael and Jenni decided to open their own business, working with the world-famous plastic bricks seemed like a natural choice, especially considering Michael Jensen’s more than 20 years of experience as a mechanical engineer.
“A mechanical engineer is kind of a natural fit with LEGO, and the education piece allows me to pass on my engineering experiences to the next generation,” Michael said.
The business, which opened in November 2018, can host birthday parties and various events, but the owners are proud that it is more than just a place to play with LEGO blocks and buy bricks by the pound.
“One of the great things that we see with those who are members and come here for a period of time is the socialization aspect of it,” Michael said. “The kids come and interact with each other and collaborate. I think in the day and age of people on screens all the time and maybe [of] less socialization, this is an avenue where there's an increase to socialization.”
The Jensens said while their main customers are older elementary- and middle school-age children who love the LEGO miniature figures—known as minifigs—those young people also take quickly to the various classes and camps offered at brickLAB.
“We'll have spring break camps and summer camps here,” Michael said, adding that those are both busy times for the business.
He explained the stop motion film camp, which gives attendees 15 hours in a week to create content, is a very popular offering.
“It's really cool to see how they start out and how they end up [with] the videos that they create,” Jenni said. “Kids get so excited about how good they get at it.”
The business also offers social skills classes for children with special needs, something which is close to the Jensens’ hearts, as they have a daughter with Down syndrome.
“We are a venue that's an alternative to screen time,” Michael said. “Instead of playing video games, come here. They still have fun, and it's something engaging—socially engaging and mentally engaging.”
Michael said he expects that in February, there could be a new wave of interest in the LEGO makerspace setting brickLAB offers, as FOX has scheduled the premiere of its new competition television series “LEGO Masters” for Feb. 5.
“So we're a little bit ahead of the curve on that,” Michael said, adding brickLAB will hold watch party events for each episode of the show.
The business also already has a selection of MOCs—short for “my own creations” in LEGO circles—on display and offers a variety of customizable options, ranging from the creation of individual minifigs to personalization to the level of the kind of information usually found on a business card.
“[Often,] things that do go viral are in the LEGO world,” Michael said. “The imprint of LEGO is huge on the internet. So if you create something pretty cool out of LEGO and people can put it in their store [and] put it on their website and stuff, it's an attraction."
