Sacramento Bricks & Minifigs will close for 1 week after staff received threats of harm
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Store will close the week of June 13 and aims to reopen on June 19.
- Employees received harassment and threats tied to viral videos about an Oregon franchise.
- Management filed police reports and is preserving records for a potential investigation.
A Lego resale store in Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood will close for at least one week after employees at the store were harassed and received threats of physical harm linked to a set of viral videos investigating conduct at an Oregon franchise, the Sacramento franchise’s general manager said Friday.
Dylan Anderson, who has served as the general manager of the Bricks & Minifigs Pocket Sacramento location since its grand opening last July, said in an emailed statement that the store would be closed for the week of June 13, with the goal of reopening June 19. Appointments and pre-scheduled parties will still be held during that time, Anderson said.
While he said he hopes the one-week closure is all that will be needed, he said he will continue to evaluate the issue and prioritize the safety of his employees.
“The most important thing we want people to understand is that online outrage can have real-world consequences,” Anderson said in the statement. “Our Sacramento store had no role in the disputed Star Wars LEGO collection matter, but our staff, family, and local business are now feeling the impact.”
“We do not want Sacramento to lose this store.”
What led up to this?
The controversy surrounding Bricks & Minifigs stems from a series of videos posted by YouTuber Reckless Ben, which alleged misconduct at an Oregon franchise near Salem.
The videos alleged that the Oregon franchise and the company’s corporate headquarters failed to return or pay a longtime Lego collector for a Star Wars set collection worth an estimated $200,000 that was provided to the franchise on a consignment agreement. The exact price of the collection has been contested.
Though the dispute happened in 2024, the YouTuber’s videos released in late May increased the issue’s profile dramatically, with one video having over 4.5 million views. The location in Keizer, a suburb of Salem, was permanently closed due to what the company called “gross negligence” in how the franchise was being run, Bricks & Minifigs said in a news release Thursday.
Various lawsuits between the involved parties are ongoing.
The YouTuber, Ben Schneider, said in a statement to KCRA 3 that angry individuals should not direct their anger toward the independently owned franchises, like the one in Sacramento.
“The vast majority of Bricks & Minifigs franchise owners around the country were not the subject of my investigation, and I would encourage viewers not to direct anger toward independent store owners who were not involved in the matter being reported on,” Schneider said.
What is Bricks & Minifigs?
The Sacramento store, located on Rush River Drive near River Lake in the Pocket neighborhood, is less than one year old and is one of over 300 independently owned franchises across the country and in Canada, according to Bricks & Minifigs’ corporate website.
There are 28 locations currently in or planned to open in California.
The store is an authorized Lego reseller that has new sets, minifigures, assorted pieces and limited-edition or retired sets, according to the Sacramento franchise’s website.
“This isn’t just a retail store — it’s a space where people of all ages can come together, get creative, and celebrate a love of building,” Anderson said in a news release when the store opened, according to Capital Public Radio. “We’re thrilled to become part of the Greenhaven/Pocket neighborhood and can’t wait to welcome everyone in.”
Are the police involved?
Anderson said the threats have come in through phone calls, emails, social media messages, online comments and reviews, with many directly referencing the controversy involving the Keizer location despite it being independent from the Sacramento franchise.
He said the conduct has been serious enough to file police reports about the communication and document what is received to aid a potential future investigation.
“We are focused on preserving records and keeping our staff and customers safe,” Anderson said.
The Sacramento Police Department said in an email that it received calls from a manager of the store on May 23 and May 30, alerting them to “concerning phone calls.”
The department said it determined that no direct threats were made and referred the manager to online reporting options on both days. The email said no official report was filed in the department’s online system.
When asked if he had communicated with Bricks & Minifigs corporate, Anderson said he is speaking only for the Sacramento location.
In his statement, Anderson said he is not asking people to ignore the controversy with the Keizer location.
“Our message to customers is simple: thank you to everyone who has supported us, checked on us, and treated our staff with kindness,” Anderson said. “Our goal is to reopen, continue serving customers, and remain part of the Sacramento community.”
