LEGO® BRAND STORE (40574) REVIEW

The LEGO® Brand Store (40574) review looks at the latest LEGO® retail store set to hit shelves. We have seen various versions over the years, both as standard sets and as promotional sets. The new LEGO® Brand Store will be available at LEGO® Stores across Canada and LEGO.com. This two-story minifigure scale set has all the standard elements found in an actual LEGO® Store. Let’s tale a closer look.

NOTE: The LEGO® Group provided this set for review. However, the provision of products does not guarantee a favorable review. I will use the usual True North Bricks rating system (click here for more information) and provide my honest opinion.

LEGO® BRAND STORE SUMMARY

• SET NAME: LEGO® Brand Store
• SET #: 40574
• THEME: Other (none specified)
• COST: $49.99 CAD
• BRICK COUNT: 541
• MINIFIGURES: 2
• RELEASE DATE: August 1, 2022
• COST/BRICK: $0.092 CAD (excellent value)
• DIMENSIONS: 15 cm (h) x 25 cm (w, when open) x 13 cm deep
• BRICK-TO-FIG RATIO: 270.5:1 (passable value)

LEGO® BRAND STORE QUICK REVIEW

• VALUE: 86%
• BUILD: 80%
• MINIFIGURES: 59%
• ENTERTAINMENT: 75%
• OVERALL SCORE: 75%

LEGO® BRAND STORE REVIEW

VALUE: 86%

The LEGO® Brand Store has 541 pieces and a price tag of $49.99 CAD. This translates to a cost per brick of $0.092 or 95%. The set was a pretty straight forward build and took me 55 minutes to complete. At that speed, the cost per minute is $0.91 and a score of 77%, which is just 3 points under the average. When considering both value related scores together, the overall value of this set comes in at 86%.

BUILD: 80%

This set has four main set bags, two loose plates, and 3 stickers sheets. Two of the sticker sheets are duplicates and I am not sure if that was intentional as I only used one sheet. Regardless, even with the two sheets there are a LOT of stickers. I am not a sticker fan but at least all the stickers are rectangles which I find easier to apply. That said, I really like the set box stickers. I am not sure if they normally include the theme name on the sticker, but it is a nice detail. Interestingly, the 18+ sets don’t have a theme name written on the sticker. The renaming of the 18+ sets to the new Icons theme must have occurred after this set went into production.

The floor is tiled yellow and grey with a couple of exposed studs to attach of the cash register and display stand. Interestingly, there are two studs behind the cash register even though a LEGO® Store employee is not included in the set. It would have been nice to have a few more random exposed studs around the store to place shoppers. Interestingly, you then put together a bracket and a 2×4 red plate that sits in the front window. I thought a future step would have me add more tiles with set stickers to this, but apparently it is just a giant 2×4 in the window.

So many stickers

It wasn’t long before I was adding more tiles with set stickers, and a LOT of them. These attach to the wall using SNOT (studs not on top) bricks. The look is ok from a distance, but I find it odd that there is only an upper shelf for the Technic sets. Consequently, most of the sets appear to be floating on the wall. I will definitely be using the stickered tiles for a future MOC (my own creation). There are also stickers to decorate the interior and exterior walls.

The lower floor swings outwards using hinge bricks. I really enjoy snapping together the hinge brick elements. It reminds me of the benefits when I build with LEGO® as part of my mindfulness practice. The two wings include a pick-a-brick wall and a minifigure in a dome on one side, and a super cute safari photo stand on the other side.

Unfinished second floor

The upper floor is accessed by a ladder (an odd choice). I have to wonder if using your imagination to get the minifigures to the second floor would have been a better option than the strange ladder. On this floor you will find more set boxes on the walls as well as a brick pit and minifigure factory. However, the minifigure factory is just a sticker on the wall. It would have been nice if there was a small mini build instead.

In the window of the upper floor, you will also find two classic sets on display – a castle and a train. These microscale models are fun little builds.

The front of the LEGO® Brand Store has some great red planters. I have always loved the round 2×2 inverted domes for this purpose. Above the door is a really nice architectural accent using two of the new 1×3 outside half arches. These are attached using 1x1x1 2/3 bricks with two studs on the side. I feel like there was a missed opportunity to add a LEGO® store sign sticker on the 2×4 white tile above the door. Interestingly, there is a LEGO® logo sticker at the centre of the upper floor.

Overall, the build was simple but fun. I enjoyed creating some of the fun features found in real LEGO® stores. I give this set a build score of 80%.

MINIFIGURES: 59%

This set comes with two minifigures. One is an adult minifigure with coral pants, and light blue jacket over a lovely white and coral blouse. The minifigure has a double-sided female coded head. Both expressions are happy. I really like the super happy face with such a big grin that the eyes have narrowed. The second minifigure has short dark tan legs and a nice green hoody over a black shirt with graphics. This minifigure has short hair in dark orange. The head is only one-sided and has an open mouth grin and freckles. Naturally, everyone is happy when they’re at the LEGO® store! Even though the instructions have you put them together in this way, you can swap the hair for more variety.

The biggest downside of the minifigures in this set is the omission of a LEGO® Store employee. It seems odd that there are studs behind the cash register for an employee, yet none is included in the set. Moreover, the write-up on LEGO.com says, “add the adults and child minifigures to role-play a shopping trip”. However, I am not sure how you can role-play a shopping trip without a LEGO® Store employee to purchase the LEGO® sets from. Additionally, the brick to minifigure ratio is only 270.5:1 which translates to around 59%. This falls well under the average for a set this size. A third minifigure, like a store employee, would improve the score to 78%, which is much closer to the average.

ENTERTAINMENT: 75%      

The features included in the LEGO® Brand Store are what make this set interesting. However, some of the features could have been developed more fully, such as the minifigure factory. It also seems odd that there isn’t a third microscale set model on the display stand with the exposed stud on the lower floor. Additionally, the play value is significantly reduced without a LEGO® Store employee minifigure. That said, this set is a fun little model. However, it is quite small and would fit fairly well with buildings from the Creator line or City line, and potentially the Friends line (though some of the recent sets are getting more robust). Unfortunately, it is far too small to be included next to modular buildings. Regardless, it is nice to have a LEGO® Brand Store in my collection, especially with all the set boxes.  Overall, I rate the entertainment score at 75%.

OVERALL SCORE: 75%

The LEGO® Brand Store review highlighted some great elements – the pick-a-brick wall, safari photo stand, and microscale set builds are nicely done. There are a LOT of stickers but unlike the stickers from some sets, the set box stickers will likely be useful in future MOCs. The biggest disappointment is the lack of a LEGO® Store employee which really reduces the play value. The overall score for this set is 75%. What do you think of the LEGO® Brand Store? How does it compare to previous LEGO® store sets? Tell us below or on social media.

Play well folks,

-Krista (she/her)

Want to support True North Bricks?

If you like the content at True North Bricks, please follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, or YouTube for regular updates. Additionally, you can support True North Bricks by making your LEGO® (and other) purchases using the links in the main menu. As an affiliate of those retailers, we earn from qualifying purchases. These earnings come at no extra cost to you but help to keep the content at True North Bricks free. Thanks for your support!