Lumibricks Gelato Store Review: Brain Freeze Never Looked This Good

Lumibricks Gelato Store Review: Brain Freeze Never Looked This Good

After being completely won over by Lumibricks’ Newsstand set and blindsided (in the best way) by the brilliance of Pantasy’s Pirates Pub, I’ve been steadily rethinking my stance on off-brand modulars. What started as a cautious toe-dip into unfamiliar waters has turned into a full dive—and now, with Lumibricks’ Gelato Store (F9078), I think it’s fair to say I’m not just testing the waters anymore. I’m swimming.

Because who can resist gelato?

Step Inside the Gelato Shop

Lumibricks’ Gelato Store F9078 is part of their growing Town Life series—a line that blends cozy European-inspired aesthetics with clever modular design. At nearly 2,000 pieces, this pastel storefront is more than just a dessert-themed novelty; it’s a fully realized modular building that unfolds in a way I’ve never seen from an off-brand kit.

Across three detailed levels, you’ll find everything from a classic gelato bar with a functioning pull-out freezer display, to intricate tile floors, upstairs living space, and warm integrated lighting that brings the whole scene to life. And let’s not forget: the entire model can be either folded into a compact city block or spread open like a dollhouse—making it work brilliantly for both city modular builders and open-shelf display fans.

There’s a lot of charm packed into this footprint. The storefront is full of personality, the signage pops, and the 10 included LED lights give it that inviting after-dark glow. From the detailed cash drawer to the printed signage and flavor tiles, there’s very little here that feels lazy or overlooked. This isn’t just a building—it’s a scene.

So yeah, I was excited for this one. And spoiler: it didn’t disappoint.

The Comparison Trap

Let me get this out of the way: constant comparisons to LEGO are exhausting. And damaging. For years, they’ve made it nearly impossible to talk about off-brand sets without a condescending tone or a built-in caveat. But these kits are not cheap knockoffs anymore. In many ways, they’re carving out a space of their own—one that’s often more affordable, surprisingly high quality, and creatively ambitious.

Lumibricks, and Pantasy before them, are proving something important: these sets don’t need to be “like LEGO” to be worth building.

A Joy to Build

This was, simply put, a really fun build. From start to finish, the process felt smooth, satisfying, and surprisingly premium. The bricks had a great texture—solid in the hand with a clutch that felt clean and strong. Every connection held firm, and at no point did it feel like I was working with anything less than high-quality components. In fact, if you set aside the missing LEGO logo on the studs, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference. And then there are the signature Lumibricks elements—like their clever lighting channels and small architectural flourishes—that add a unique identity to the build. No gaps, no warped pieces, no frustration. Just a genuinely enjoyable experience that reminded me why I love modular sets in the first place. 

That One Color

Okay. Small gripe. One of the colors—a sort of “ice white”—triggered an old memory I didn’t expect: cheap Mega Bloks. That ghostly pale tone just took me back to brittle-feeling bricks and weird, washed-out sets from a different era. But let’s be clear—this isn’t that. It just looks a little like that. In every other way, the quality was leagues ahead of those older off-brand nightmares. Still, worth mentioning for the nostalgic brain-zap.

Build Breakdown

Here’s how the Gelato Store stacked up:

• 🧱 Build Quality: 7/10
  No major flaws at all. A clean, well-paced build. If I’m allowed one comparison, I will say that Pantasy’s sets just edge it out in refinement and finish—but this was still solid.
• 🧲 Clutch Power: 8/10
  No issues whatsoever. Everything snapped together with a satisfying feel, and I never had that dreaded “is this going to hold?” moment.
• 🎨 Design: 9.5/10
  This was the real standout. The building unfolds to display in two totally different configurations: compact like a city modular or spread-out like a shelf centerpiece. That kind of flexibility is rare—and this is the first off-brand set I’ve seen pull it off so thoughtfully. A huge win for both city builders and shelf display folks.
• 💡 Lighting: 10/10
  It’s Lumibricks. Of course the lighting is amazing. Ten warm LEDs, perfectly integrated, no clutter, no awkward wiring. They’re not just tossing lights into sets—they’re designing with light in mind. It shows.
• 📘 Instructions: 9/10
  As an experienced builder, I had zero trouble. Clear layout, logical steps. That said, if my kids were building this, I think they’d need occasional help. So maybe not perfectly beginner-friendly, but close.
• 🎨 Color, Look, & Feel: 9/10
  Aside from that one pale “ice white,” the rest of the color palette was rich, thoughtful, and cohesive. It’s a gorgeous build—charming, elegant, and full of personality.

Minifig Revelation

Okay. Here’s the twist I didn’t see coming.

I’ve been… harsh on off-brand minifigs. Rightfully, I think. They often look out of place—cheap, uncanny, and distracting. I’ve gone as far as saying brands should leave them out entirely.

But this time? I liked them.

Maybe it was the color depth. Maybe the outfits just worked. Maybe I’ve warmed up to them over time. Whatever it was, I found myself genuinely appreciating the minifigures included in the Gelato Store set. They felt more aligned with the scene, more thoughtfully designed, and the rich, deep color tones really made them pop.

If I were Lumibricks or Pantasy, I’d lean into this—stick with these deeper color palettes and cleaner sculpts. You’re on to something here.

 Final Thoughts

I really do love this modular.

The Lumibricks Gelato Store would look beautiful in any LEGO, Pantasy, or Lumibricks city layout. Compact but rich in detail, it offers that feeling of warmth and depth that’s hard to fake. For me, it brought back memories of wandering cobbled side streets in Rome, passing those little corner gelaterias on the way to the Trevi Fountain. It’s that kind of beautiful.

It’s not just another pretty box on a shelf. It tells a story. It belongs.

Overall Score: 8/10

This is a must-have for anyone looking to expand their modular world with a set that brings a sweet little slice of European charm—and maybe, just maybe, a bit of brain freeze along the way.

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