Paul Eagle was what he calls a “casual LEGO fan” growing up in the area.
He fell away from the hobby as he got older, but his interest rekindled as an adult. During the Marvel movie craze, when innumerable sets brought to life scenes from the movies, he admits he quickly filled a room with his builds.
When he returned to live in the Triangle several years ago, he transformed his hobby into something deeper.
After growing a successful career in video production, Paul was looking for a change. He happened across news of a Bricks & Minifigs store opening in Richmond, Virginia, and his first thought was, “Why isn’t there one of these here?”
From there, Paul admits he went “down the rabbit hole,” doing research on the national franchise that soon turned into a local business plan.
Collectors young and old search brick bins for pieces to add to their sets.
In the summer of 2024, he took the leap, opening Bricks & Minifigs Cary on Kildaire Farm Road. He hasn’t looked back since.
The shop embodies more than the typical retail experience, serving as a gathering place for hobbyists of all ages and levels of expertise.
“We want to provide a community experience,” Paul says. “There are plenty of places you can order LEGO sets without getting off your couch. We want to give people a reason to come through the door — and a reason to come back.”
The store’s inventory is its first differentiator. Bricks & Minifigs Cary stocks new retail sets, but its shelves and bins are lined with items not found at Target or on Amazon. It’s the place to go to look for retired, discontinued, or certified used sets, as well as loose minifigures, individual bricks sold by the piece or by the cup, and pre-built used sets that range from modestly priced to coveted and collectible.
Customers run the gamut, Paul says, but he’s ready to help them find whatever they’re looking for.
“Someone might need 1,000 tan bricks for a custom Star Wars build. Someone else wants a new set to crack open tonight; some are collectors chasing discontinued items, and some are building armies of minifigures.”
The store’s trade desk ensures an ever-changing inventory, as customers bring in sets they’ve outgrown and receive store credit to shop for something else. This, Paul points out, drives repeat visits.
“With a traditional toy store, the shelves are always basically the same,” he says. “With us, it’s different every time people come in.
“I also keep track of what people are looking for and can let them know when we have that item.”
Paul is clear-eyed that there’s always competition. LEGO products are widely available. So he and his staff make sure they ask the question every day: Why would someone come here instead?
The answer, in large part, is the clubhouse-style atmosphere fostered in the shop. Staff members engage with customers. The focus isn’t on processing sales, but talking LEGO, helping someone track down a hard-to-find piece, and ensuring customers see the store as a gathering place.
“People are happy to talk LEGO, talk the news, talk pop culture with us,” Paul says. “That’s part of the experience.”
Shelves are stocked with an ever-changing inventory of used sets and minifigures, including some with hefty price tags.
Events amplify that sense of community. The store recently hosted a Star Wars Day celebration complete with costumes, raffles, and giveaways. Paul said he has organized building classes — such as a session where participants constructed a Jedi Starfighter — and community minifigure swap nights. Birthday parties are available, with options that include building activities and a LEGO car soapbox derby. He is expanding the events calendar and expects more programming to be added in the coming months.
The store also aims to help the youngest LEGO fans develop confidence and other life skills. When children bring their own sets to trade in, Paul and his staff encourage parents to let the kids handle the negotiation themselves — understanding what they have, what it’s worth, and what they want in return.
“You see them figuring it out,” he says. “It’s a budget lesson. It’s cute, but we’re also teaching something real.”
Two years in, Paul says the reception from the greater Cary area has exceeded his expectations. He returns support to the community, donating to PTA fundraisers — perhaps offering a birthday party as a silent auction prize — and has done similar outreach for the Cary Police Department. He’s also worked through a local nonprofit to supply inventory for visitors to the Ronald McDonald House.
Along the way, Paul has also discovered that the LEGO community is larger and more hidden in plain sight than he anticipated. Fans span generations, from grandparents browsing with grandchildren to young professionals rediscovering the hobby now that they have disposable income to spend on it.
“The LEGO fans are hiding everywhere,” Paul says with a laugh.
Youngsters build cars during a birthday in the Party Room.
Reflecting on the shop’s first two years — celebrated with a two-day event June 6–7 — Paul says the rewards come in seeing his customers’ reactions.
“Seeing kids walk in for the first time is one of the best parts of this job,” he says. “They’re usually running in before their parents even get through the door. You hear that ‘oh my gosh’ or that ‘wow’ — that never gets old.”
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