Locking down a Lego Dream in TD; Store opens Saturday, Sept. 30

The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 29, 2023 - Jay Wilson and Leslie Wilson-Sullivan provided a sneak peek at their new store Brick City & Games on Friday, Sept. 29 in a precursor to their blockbuster opening slated for Saturday morning, Sept. 30 after a ribbon cutting at 9:45 a.m.

The new store is located at 318 E. Second St. in downtown The Dalles.

The couple has created a unique store with Legos for all ages and the intent is to take their love of the bricks to the community to provide safe and constructive play for kids and their parents.

Jay Wilson displays a 1964 Shell Lego Truck. He said the company started with these trucks and switched from Octane to Shell to Exxon and then back to Octane during the early years.

Jay and Leslie are all smiles as they run a point of sale together during the sneak peek.

Max and Griffin Dollarhide piece some Legos together. It’s hard to resist as the plastic snap together blocks immediately stir the imagination and quickly get hands working on the next creation.

Leslie said as a child she would pick raspberries and blueberries to earn money. Her mom insisted she put 50% toward savings, 25% toward school clothes and the rest she spent, of course, on Lego. Castles were here favorite she said. “I always wanted more castles.” Leslie said this Castle from 1978 was her favorite even though she did not own it as a kid.

Chilling out - Griffin and Max play a tabletop video game that included Pac Man, Dig Dug, Galaga and nine other games. The two were sitting in Jay Wilson’s pride and joy - the backroom that has been made over with fresh paint and carpet and sports lots of coaches for chillin.’ Jay said it was a safe and welcoming space for kids wanting to come to the store and play games and Lego - a space he could have used when he was that age.

Lego made a typewriter - Oh Yeah. It even works - notice the typing paper to the right.

The store offers a fun and colorful place to check out Lego through the ages. Jay Wilson said he and Leslie had collected many vintage sets as well as loads of loose blocks - some 2,500 pounds worth through searching throughout Oregon and Washington. Jay and Leslie are working to make the creative bricks affordable as the toys come with a hefty price tag at the retail counter. “Our town needs something else to do for kids,” Jay said. “What were trying to do overall is get families back together again and playing again. We’re going to have family days.”

Caleb holds a cowboy with a double ax and chainsaw - a creation of his own made from the mini figure counter. Jay said they intend to provide schools with gift certificates for students who can then come to the store to get build their own mini.