Bricks & Minifigs Owners Bob and Monica Schwaniger show off available LEGO pieces and sets in their shop. After opening in January, the couple has already made a name for themselves in the community, donating to local fundraisers and sponsoring activities.
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Bricks & Minifigs
At the beginning of this year, Bricks & Minifigs opened in Orange to invite children and adults alike to find the joy in LEGO® pieces. Husband-and-wife duo Bob and Monica Schwaniger opened the Orange franchise location after having a lifelong appreciation for LEGO and wanting to pivot to owning their own business.
The pair love the building blocks for different reasons. Bob is fascinated by how far LEGO has come and how advanced the pieces are, and Monica loves using loose pieces to make mosaic art.
“We love the art of LEGO and want people to find that joy, too,” says Bob.
The certified LEGO resale store offers new and used sets, as well as retired sets and bulk pieces customers can sift through to find what they want. It’s a buy, sell and trade operation, so Bob and Monica encourage people who want to sell sets or parts to come in and rehome their LEGO bricks.
The store also hosts events and birthday parties that allow customers to participate in build challenges or use the space to freestyle create whatever they want with the LEGO pieces. The space was recently rented out for a 65th birthday celebration, where the host and guests built flower sets.
“I love when people walk into our store and have an amazing reaction,” says Monica. “Life is hard, and having a place where you can just let loose and enjoy yourself is so needed. It’s rewarding to bring that joy to people and to hear the sounds of them having fun and enjoying our space.”
Alongside their passion for LEGO, the Schwanigers wanted to own a business that supports people who are neurodiverse, including their two sons, one of whom works at Bricks & Minifigs.
“Everyone wants to be accepting of diversity, but you have to create opportunities to support it,” says Monica. “It’s difficult for people with social communication disabilities to find employment, so we want to help them and show everyone that they are excellent workers.”
For Bob, creating a welcoming space where customers can experience nostalgia and happiness has been deeply fulfilling.
“A few weeks ago, a woman came in who told me she’s 87 years old and just started getting into LEGO, and she loves it,” he says. “It’s never too late to start.”
Bricks & Minifigs, Orange
2263 North Tustin St., Orange, CA 92865 / 714-602-6140
