Brickmania GHQ

If you love Lego, this is the off brand store for you. If you don't, this might be the store that converts you! They specialize in unofficial Lego, specifically military sets. You'll find jet fighters, submarines, humvees, and more. You'll still find a selection of official Lego sets along with stations to build your own mini figures.

It's difficult to talk about a lifelong affliction - one that struck me at an early age and has been de-habilitating, costly in terms of monetary impact and emotional damage to my loved ones, and countless hours of pain upon my soul. Folks, it's time to talk seriously about Early Onset Pre-Lottery Anxiety (EOPLA), which is a condition bought about by the lack of excessive liquidity (also known as f-you money) in my bank account. Every day I wake up with the embarrassing realization that I am just a middle class dude with an slightly better than average job, a mortgage, a wife and only so much disposable income to buy Legos for the past 35+ years. ..what, you thought I am going to talk about my lifelong addiction to Lego bought on by my first set (the 6382 Lego Firehouse from 1983 given to me by my late father) and I've been an infectious carrier of AFOL (adult fan of Lego) even throughout their malaise years of the 1990s? Nah, son - I own that one proudly. No past girlfriends have ever emerged unscathed without stomping on at least one errant brick late at night, and at one was on the losing end of an "either I go or the Legos" argument at an NYC metro area Lego store. Hell, my wife got the ring in June 2015 partly because she bought me the Lego Creator Parisian restaurant set in December 2014 and helped finished 1/3 of it (what, she was also my lovely soulmate, the Lego was simply the shorthanded girlfriend goal that sealed the game). The Lego insanity on the analytical side of my brain is only matched by the military/aviation/rail geekdom, the IT/programming ability, kitchen jiujitsu and my appreciation for cats. You can just imagine my mind going crazy over folks doing military MOC (my own creations) back in the 90s when SNOT (studs on the side) techniques wasn't a thing and the Lego parts library were much smaller. This was before Bricklink allowed you to easily order parts from 3rd party resellers and Bricklink Studios gave you the ability to design virtual sets quickly.Of course, the thing is that just like every single budding padawan needs a lightsaber swinging jedi to educate, and that's where Dan Siskind and the Brickmania guys come in. Despite my dehabiliating EOPLA condition I still manage to fling money at their general direction for digital instructions, decals and books, and then spend a fairly ridiculous amount (my wife's words, not mine) furthering my collection of Lego plane and tank MOCs - usually built based on BKM instructions and often with my own modifications baked in. I can't really afford their actual sets due to a distinct lack of f-you money, but I still have IT-job-stress-relief money (and thanks to Crowdstrike I am doing more BKM buys these days), so it's more decal packs, Brickarms accessories, minifigs, 3D printed parts and such sent to me from BKM GHQ near Minneapolis. And thanks partly to this hobby I manage not to go into the data center cage at my workplace with a sledgehammer with the intent to "percussively patch" Microsoft servers last weekend. So yeah, please please please donate your unwanted future winning lottery ticket numbers to me. One day we will overcome Early Onset Pre-Lottery Anxiety, and this adult will have f-you money to spend on Brickmania custom Lego sets. And if not, eeeeh, I'll still buy from them. And one day while doing a layover on a Delta flight I'll stop by for a visit. Until then, pass that Bricklink shopping cart XML file and keep stacking bricks and plates...

This store is no joke no scam AMAZING staff are very nice and talk with you, I've had some good conversations with em to they have really cool stuff to look at and you can play bored games, and lego bored games also they have a AC-130 and a Black Hawk Down moc and they have a HUGE ship it's is very big and cool they even have a scavenger hunt you can do to get a cool brickmainia sticker and so much stuff to look at and very cool sets too! But a lot of the stuff there is pricey but honestly it's cool enough just looking at it i have spent hours looking around and talking with the staff there and they don't JUST have there Costum sets they also have halo mega constux and bored games nerf guns lego accessories and stuff just overall a lot of stuff to look at it's a great experience almost like a vacation I Harley recommend this store and every thing I got from here was worth every penny I'm not kidding but if your reading this and HAVENT gone here YOU NEED TO RIGHT NOW or when you can this place is amazing

Brickmania is a specialty shop which designs WW2 models out of LEGO bricks. They are also an authorized dealer of BrickArms accessories. Not sure what that means? I'll explain. Brickmania began when Dan, the owner of the company, realized there was a need for WW2 models in LEGO. He'd built his own for most of his life, and was often asked if he would be willing to sell the models, or the plans to build his accurate designs. It took some time to convince himself that there were enough people out there who might buy such a thing, but the company now exists, and their customer base grows every day. Until now, Brickmania's products were only available online or during open house events at their warehouse/workshop space in Minneapolis. This is the first retail location, and I'm sure it will expose a much larger group of people to the amazing things that are possible when one builds with LEGO bricks. Just a quick glance in the windows will allow you to see a full wall mural (12'x12') of the flag being raised on Iwo Jima. This mural contains over 200,000 studs, and was created during a weekend gathering of Brickmania fans. Many of their other large models will also soon be on display, including a 25' model of the USS Missouri, which is still in the building process. Until then, the Brandenburg Gate is impressive enough. The store also sells accessories from a variety of other specialty dealers and a series of books which show the many things that can be created with small bits of plastic. The best thing about Brickmania is the staff of people who run and work for the company. They are true LEGO enthusiasts and will happily discuss pieces and building techniques. They will also explain the differences between this tank or that one, or the slight variations in each series of aircraft. Take a moment to ask questions about what you see, but watch out. Your next hobby is just ahead!

From their website: Founded by independent designer Daniel Siskind in 1999, Brickmania has offers high quality building kits made from genuine LEGO® brand parts. WWI/II military models and modern warfare are the focus at this store on the 3rd floor of the mall. A massive replica (over 20' long, 600k bricks, $2.5mm!) of the USS Missouri exists inside this store.Fun staff and knowledgeable, and interesting sets to buy, though more expensive than the average LEGO set.

If you have kids that loves legos or trains, this is the place for you. It has everything, lego exhibits, play table, race tracks, mosaic lego art, geek atmosphere, trains, unbelievable lego models, war exhibits, etc... Yeah, yeah, you saying why don't we just go to Lego land at Mall of America. That place is a zoo. Unless, you enjoying walking 1000 yards from the parking lot to the store and deal thousands and thousands of INSANE children all over you, Brickmania is 1000x times better. You know what they have that MOA doesn't? Crazy exhibits that actual people put together. Heck their lego exhibits put train people to shame - look at the pictures I posted. Trust me on this, drag our kid to their open house which is 2nd Saturday every month and check it out. What you don't have children? Borrow one and go. Do whatever it takes to convince your significant other that you are busy entertaining the 'kids'.

My family is into Legos big-time, but the war-themed exhibits at Brickmania was a turn-off. Knowing that they represented historical events and real military equipment made it even harder for me to bring my preschooler. It seems that a line was crossed from fantasy & play to romanticizing violence. These exhibits, albeit well-built, are not appropriate for children.Especially cringeworthy was the Blackhawk Down scene, which featured dark-skinned mini-figurines as the Somali enemies. (The "good guys" all seem to be the normal yellow Lego color.) Um, didn't any of builders think that this might be more than a little racist?Not withstanding those serious negatives, there were some good things: A large play area with lots of Lego bricks and a racing ramp, a remarkable warehouse/factory interior (originally used to manufacture WWII munitions), and some large exhibits that were not war-themed, including a town with multiple trains. During our visits, the "open house" on the second Saturday of each month was free, but Brickmania's web site says that a visit will now cost you $5/person.Photo of Blackhawk Down scene:https://brickmaniatoys.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/brickstufflights05l.jpg

This place is awesome!! I'm huge into history and legos so this a great place. I've made Mocs and stop motion with their mini figs and brickarms. My only drawback is the price of their sets of tanks, planes, and humvees. The mini figs can be pricey but if you can make your own with their stock of cheap lego mini figs and brickarms, helmets, vests, and weapons.Overall, this place is great, just make sure you have enough money.

Long time Brickmania fan, first time going to the Headquarters. Loved it. There was many models I haven't seen in years.

This place is like a Lego enthusiast's dream. There are MOCS everywhere, custom brickarms, and a friendly, knowledgeable staff that clearly also have a passion for Lego. There are hundreds of third party lego kits and pieces everywhere and display shelves that house hundreds of previous kits. They also stock a wide variety of their own kits, some that aren't available online and you can only get online. Be forewarned though, If you aren't a veteran with a disposable income, and want a kit to take home, you probably won't be able to justify nor buy a kit with price tags this expensive. Brickmania kits are inflated from 5 to 6 times more expensive than a regular lego set. Say if you have a 500 piece lego set that costs 40-50 dollars, here a kit with that much pieces would be 200-250 dollars. In more extreme cases, Kits can reach up to prices of $800-3,700.