City Lego seller continues to build up its business

Brick by brick, a Winnipeg Lego seller is building its third expansion — in less than two years.

The Little Brick Market Co.’s new shop was mainly a blank slate Thursday.

A case of Lord of the Rings figurines rested against a wall. In a week, a corner nearby should have some 1,350 minifigures displayed for sale.

Staff are hauling in more than 2,000 Lego sets, two “pick a brick” tables and retro Lego magazines for reading.

“We just need more space,” said Jason Poturica, The Little Brick Market’s owner.

The company plans to open at 1887 Grant Ave. on Aug. 22. It’s nearly tripling its retail floor — and so, over the next week, staff are clocking long hours to transform the strip mall site.

Poturica has plans for a community Lego display and a waiting area for parents. He’s creating Lego building events for autumn.

Demand at The Little Brick Market has “eclipsed” Poturica’s initial projections.

“There’s so many passionate Lego lovers who want to share their hobby,” he said. “It has definitely exceeded any expectations that I had.”

He and a business partner launched The Little Brick Market at 680 Wall St. in March 2025. The company started with 100 sq. ft. and some collections bought around Canada.

New and used sets are available. Customers can sell or swap their Lego, or buy without a trade.

Quickly, The Little Brick Market expanded at its Wall Street abode. It moved into more space upstairs before, last fall, taking a roughly 900 sq. ft. space downstairs, Poturica said.

Leadership was looking for more room by February this year. The Wall Street store feels tight with 10 to 15 people inside, Poturica said.

“We have so many people coming in, so it’s great, but… like every day someone says, ‘You guys are going to need a bigger store,’” said Jo Villaverde, one of The Little Brick Market’s managers.

“It was getting pretty cramped in there.”

He shuffles boxes to make room. Meanwhile, customers drive from across the city to find sets that have been discontinued or have limited availability.

Staff regularly buy Lego across Canada. Lately, people from other provinces have been reaching out to sell their collections, Poturica said.

He’s been stockpiling items away for the new store. The roughly 3,000 sq. ft. of space — including 2,300 sq. ft. for retail — will allow for triple the products on display, Poturica said.

“It’s a great thing for the Lego community,” said Scott Templeton, ambassador of the Manitoba Lego Users Group.

The group has around 60 members who gather and participate in events such as Comiccon.

The number of Lego enthusiasts in the province is much larger and grew during the COVID-19 pandemic. People turned to hobbies while isolating at home, Templeton noted.

The Lego Group reported year-over-year consumer sales growth of 21 per cent in 2020. It has a shop in CF Polo Park.

“The fact that we have a Lego store is huge,” Templeton said.

Many Canadian communities don’t, he added. He called The Little Brick Market’s expansion a “really strong indicator” that the Lego community can support several Winnipeg stores.

It fits an international trend: The Lego Group reported 16 per cent year-over-year growth in consumer sales last year, saying that “more children than ever” got a Lego product.

Revenue hit roughly C$17.9 billion in 2025, if using Thursday’s Danish krone to Canadian currency conversion rate. The Lego Group is based in Denmark.

Poturica expects to host “build and chill” nights and events such as Lego flower creating at The Little Brick Market.

The company is keeping its current site on Wall Street, mainly for collection drop-offs. It’ll have a pick a brick table and some sets available, but the footprint will be smaller, Poturica said.

He’s got vintage collections and magazine pages ready for display on Grant Avenue. Staff are building a Lego brick-looking wall out of a former The North Face sign, left behind by a previous tenant.

Plenty of families visit the strip mall for Dairy Queen and Stella’s, said Becca Bohemier, who works in a cannabis shop along the stretch.

“I think (The Little Brick Market) would be good for community,” Bohemier said.

The Little Brick Market will open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com