After the recent announcement of the world’s largest toy producer opening a store in Mississippi, residents are growing excited.
LEGO is planning to move into the site of the recently vacated Apple store at the Renaissance at Colony Park in Ridgeland, next to Barnes and Noble and Lululemon. The new Apple store relocated to the other side of the outdoor shopping mall to its new home, across from the Malco theater.
Despite no current grand opening date for the LEGO Store, many Mississippians across the state are already building their anticipation for the opportunity to visit the store and explore all that it has to offer.
“I am excited. I love LEGO, so I think it’s pretty cool that we’re getting a LEGO Store,” Ridgeland resident Khloe Celestine said at the opening of Apple’s new store on July 24. “A lot of my friends and family love LEGO, so I think it’ll be fun.”
Fun is the correct word to use for the interactive store – because LEGO won’t be like any other store in the Renaissance. Visitors don’t go to a LEGO Store to simply buy something and leave; they go to experience it.
“I think getting a LEGO Store is a great addition to the Renaissance. I remember when I was a kid and had to go to Toys ‘R’ Us for LEGOs, but now that it’s closed and I’m in Starkville, it’s kinda hard to get the newest sets,” Mississippi State student Cole Crowson said. “I would definitely make the drive pretty often to the store, and knowing Mississippi is getting one is making me want to get back into the hobby.”
Not only will it be a place for people to come and get exclusive or even early-access sets for fans across the state, but they can also create their own.
On an average day, anyone can create a custom LEGO figure at a Build a Minifigure Station or make their own structure or vehicle creations at a Pick & Build Wall. In addition, LEGO is known to host Make and Take Events and creative workshops for guests to hone their LEGO building skills with pre-existing and custom sets that they get to take home.
On the business side, some residents and Renaissance workers believe that the addition of a LEGO Store will bring in more customers to the outdoor shopping mall as a whole. Lululemon worker Christian Holmes thinks that people coming for the LEGO Store might also stick around and visit what the rest of the Renaissance has to offer.
“Since I actually work at Lululemon next door to where Apple was, I’m very excited,” Holmes said. “It will definitely be nice to have a new neighbor and experience that kind of clientele.”
Although there is still no speculated opening date for the store, LEGO is confirmed to open in Apple’s old spot sometime in the near future.
