When Luke Jones and Jared Mecham met, the idea to start a buy, sell and trade Lego store was a no-brainer. As of January, their dream is a Main Street reality.  

Big Sky Bricks is one of the latest stores to come to downtown Kalispell, sporting a range of Lego products including miscellaneous pieces, figurines, already-built sets and brand-new sets.  

Jones, a Marine Corps veteran, picked up a knack for buying and selling Legos after he finished his military service last year. He began conducting business on sites like Facebook Marketplace and eBay, but owning a store was always in the back of his mind.  

At a craft vendor show last year, Mecham, who also owns Heroic Realms Hobbies and Games downtown, approached Jones after purchasing some of his products about teaming up to open a Lego store in the valley.  

“We’ve been going ever since,” Jones said.  

Big Sky Bricks is a place for collectors and amateurs alike. The store boasts intricate and complex sets like the 2007 UCS Millenium Falcon from the sci-fi series “Star Wars” and simpler sets like Lego Comanche Camp from the movie “The Lone Ranger.” There is a make your own figurine station, a bulk bagging station and more for interested patrons to explore.  

The space also features a playroom for children, with various Lego shapes to build around. 

The walls of the store are painted primary colors to mimic the Lego branding and music from the soundtracks of “Star Wars,” “The Lord of the Rings” and other Lego universes plays throughout the day.  

While creating a fun space is important to the owners, creating a community space is at the forefront of their mission. From hosting Lego bingo nights to occasional events to a potential after-school program, Jones and Mecham hope to expand valley residents’ options.  

“In the winter there is almost nothing for kids to do,” Jones said. “There is a real need in the community for that.” 

The space is also an event space and can host events like birthday parties, with packages ranging in price.  

An upcoming event Jones looks forward to is a May 3 silent auction of every Millenium Falcon released by Lego since 2001, in honor of the informal commemorative Star Wars Day on May 4. The shop is in possession of all of them.  

They are also expanding the space to include what they coined “The Brick Room,” a larger space where they hope to host building competitions and other events.  

“We want this to be a place where people can hang out and spend some time,” Mecham. “It’s here, it is something to do in Kalispell.” 

The shop acts as a reseller too, meaning anyone can come in with Legos of their own to negotiate a price for them in return. It ranges, Jones said, mentioning that the store has awarded $5 store vouchers for kids bringing in a few pieces to a $5,000 check for a collector’s item.  

“We don’t want to be a store that upcharges everyone, we really want to cater to Lego lovers offering a wide selection,” Jones said, pointing toward the range of what they offer.  

Big Sky Bricks is located at 309 Main St. downtown Kalispell. Right now, the store is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The hours will change for the summer on May 4 to Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].