Lego lovers wait in 30-minute line to check out epic garage sale
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The McKays asked people to reserve their place in line for the Lego sale due to high demand. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios
An army of Lego figurines stand guard in the garage of Thomas and Erin McKay's Southwest Austin home.
It's a sweltering Saturday morning, and the McKays have been up for hours, helping Austinites realize their Lego dreams.
What they're saying: "I had a bit of a panic moment when we got everything set up … I didn't know if anyone was going to come," Thomas told Axios from their two-car garage. But after advertising their Lego sale on Facebook Marketplace, the pair received over 100 messages in just 24 hours.
- "Then I went into panic mode the other way," he laughed. "How are we going to manage all these people who said they're going to be here at 7am?"
- They created a text system to meet the demand, allowing customers to reserve their place in line. By 11am, McKay said the wait time was around 30 minutes for those hoping to get inside.
What's happening: The McKays have been buying and selling Legos through eBay for years — and it's hard to miss the "We buy Lego" signs they've stationed across South Austin.
- But Saturday marked their first Lego garage sale, where the pair displayed a variety of figurines — from witches to stormtroopers, penguins to dragons. Plus, they had plenty of already-built Lego sets, including a roller coaster, a "Harry Potter" 9 ¾ platform and train and a Parisian restaurant.
- "It's an evergreen toy in that young people love it and older people love it," Thomas said.
State of play: It's clear that it's not just a kids' toy. Lego has long marketed its products toward adults.
- Lego wants adults to show off the complex sets after they build them, Catherine Maddrey, a Lego spokesperson, told Axios' Jennifer Kingson at a toy expo in New York City last year.
- "That's what Lego is moving toward, is 'play and display,'" Maddrey said. "No longer shoved in the closet."
- NBA players have even taken to TikTok to show off their Lego-building skills.
Between the lines: It's a lucrative hobby, too.
- The McKays' loop roller coaster set will run you about $320. The Parisian restaurant? $255.
- One person spent over $800 Saturday morning, according to Thomas.
What's next: The two plan to hold a Lego garage seasonally — after they stock back up.