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The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream LEGO City
Explore the complete collection of 20+ modular buildings, from the iconic Café Corner (2007) to the latest releases. Learn about investment potential, display strategies, and lighting modifications.
All LEGO modular buildings follow a consistent 32x32 stud footprint and feature detailed interiors, intricate facades, and authentic architectural details.
Café Corner (10182): Originally $149.99, now valued at $3,500+
Green Grocer (10185): Originally $149.99, now valued at $2,800+
Pet Shop (10218): Originally $149.99, now valued at $800+
Town Hall (10224): Originally $199.99, now valued at $900+
ROI: 1,500% - 2,300% over 10-17 years
Likely Retiring Soon:
Sets typically retire 24-36 months after release. Act fast!
Classic two-sided street with 32-stud road in the middle. Perfect for 6-8 buildings.
Buildings surround a central plaza or park. Great for showcasing larger sets like Town Hall.
Perfect for corner displays. Showcases corner buildings like Café Corner beautifully.
Transform your modular buildings with LED lighting kits. Popular brands include Lightailing, Light My Bricks, and Briksmax. Here are the best sets to light up:
Each modular is 32x32 studs. Standard IKEA shelves (KALLAX, Billy) work perfectly at 15.75" depth.
Use the included plates and Technic pins to securely connect buildings. Remove rear walls for an open "dollhouse" view.
Swap minifigures, add custom signage, or modify color schemes. The modular design makes customization easy!
Built modulars are heavy (5-10 lbs each). Reinforce shelves for multiple buildings. Keep instructions and boxes for resale value.
Dust with a soft brush or compressed air. Avoid water. Disassemble carefully if moving buildings.
Join r/lego and Eurobricks forums for MOC ideas, lighting tips, and early retirement warnings.
Start with the newest available set (e.g., Natural History Museum, Medieval Town Square) to avoid retirement. Assembly Square (10255) is the largest and most impressive if still available. Bookshop (10270) is great for beginners at a lower price point.
LEGO releases 1-2 modular buildings per year, typically in January. Recent years have seen two releases (e.g., Jazz Club + Natural History Museum in 2022-2023).
Yes! The 32x32 baseplate is compatible with all LEGO City, Friends, and Creator sets. You can integrate vehicles, minifigures, and street elements from any theme.
Most collectors use IKEA KALLAX or Billy bookcases (15.75" depth fits perfectly). Alternatively, custom floating shelves at 16" depth work well. Display 2-3 buildings per shelf for stability.
Yes, if sealed. Café Corner has appreciated 2,300% since 2007. Even mid-2010s sets like Pet Shop and Brick Bank have doubled in value. However, built/used sets appreciate much less (20-40%).
Absolutely! Popular mods include: adding interior lighting, changing color schemes, creating custom signs, adding minifigure families, and building custom modulars (MOCs) to fill gaps in your city.
Café Corner (10182) from 2007 is the most valuable, selling for $3,000-4,000 sealed. Green Grocer (10185) follows at $2,500-3,000. Both are considered the "Holy Grails" of modular collecting.
Watch for "Retiring Soon" tags on LEGO.com, check Brickset retirement predictions, and monitor r/lego. Modulars typically retire 24-36 months after release. When a set shows "Out of Stock" repeatedly, retirement is imminent.
Browse our collection of available modular buildings and start your collection today.
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