Building With the Community: Bricks and Minifigs Great Falls

Whether it's collecting, playing, building, or just nostalgia, one thing remains true. People love LEGO! From age 1 to 5 with DUPLO, and 5 to beyond with LEGO itself, it remains a hot item for just about anyone. And Great Falls is definitely no different! From couples to collectors, LEGO has captured the hearts of many, and it's easy to see why. What's even easier to see is the staggering amount of communities rallying around LEGO. One of those communities is exactly what we're going to be looking at through this article. The Great Falls branch of Bricks and Minifigs is a LEGO resale store. However, it's much more to its employees and the towns they surround.

Bricks and Minifigs was first opened in 2010 in Battle Ground, Washington. Since then, they've expanded to over 150 stores across the U.S. and Canada. They follow 3 principles that magnify their success and love from the communities they operate in: Rebuild, Reuse, and Reimagine. The location in our town is definitely no different and operates with the same passion and care. I went to the store and spoke with the manager, Ryan Rydquist, and owners, Brad and Lib Martinich, to see the passion in person.

Our town's location is at 2414 11th Avenue. South, neighbors to a Dominos. I got the pleasure of talking to the manager, Ryan Rydquist, for almost two hours. The amount of passion he has for LEGO and Great Falls is completely staggering. He and one of the owners, Brad Martinich, grew up together in Great Falls, playing with LEGO. You can feel the love they have for their work and community just by stepping inside the shop, and there's nothing better than that. Both of them knew that a shop like that was needed in Great Falls for everyone, especially for the younger generations. Great Falls has always been populated by bars and casinos, so anywhere younger people have a chance to gather is more than welcomed. This is a sentiment shared by the store itself, and what a joy it is. Brad and Ryan made it clear though, that like LEGO themselves, the store is truly for anyone. Ryan even recounted one of his favorite moments in the store, a beautiful story where an older lady was shopping. Brad had a similar story, but with a rare LEGO set, and on the third day that they were open. Nothing is better than hearing the staff recount how much they love their job and/or the people they get to meet.

I got the pleasure to come back the next day and speak with Lib for a while. It was wonderful to see that she's just as caring for the bricks, even after admitting she got into LEGO later. However, because of that, she completely understands the love for it from all ages more than most. Lib even recounted some of her favorite memories with me, one of them had her emotional while recounting a little kid who won a prize drawing. She had also assured me that the location will be seeing more events as time goes on. All in all, it was such an honor to talk with all three of them, and I look forward to visiting again.

While Great Falls doesn't see significant changes often, after a year of standing, I can confidently say that Bricks and Minifigs is a great change for the good. The staff and the product they work with is dedicated to being for all ages and all backgrounds. That can be felt instantly through the friendly staff and wide open aisles. So again, whether it's collecting, playing, building, or just nostalgia, Bricks and Minifigs is a great place for the hobby and people just looking to explore!

By Jack Strike: March 6, 2026 - Great Falls, Mt