Lumibricks The Bodega 26 (19017) Review: Small Set, Big City Character

Lumibricks The Bodega 26: Small Set, Big City Character

Lumibricks has become remarkably good at creating buildings that feel as though they belong to a real city.

Not a pristine city. Not a perfect city. A lived-in city.

The Bodega 26 is a compact neighbourhood grocery store filled with colour, signage, products and observations of everyday life. Despite containing only 618 pieces, almost every available space contributes something to the shop’s character.

Having built several of Lumibricks’ modular buildings, the Bodega feels like the culmination of lessons learned from those earlier models. The company’s established approach to architecture, accessibility, printed detail and integrated lighting has been deployed beautifully within a much smaller footprint.

Basic Specifications

- Set: The Bodega 26

- Set number: 19017

- Pieces: 618

- Base: 16 × 24 studs

- Dimensions: approximately 19.5 × 13 × 14 cm

- Minifigures: one

- Lighting: integrated LED lighting

- Recommended retail price: £39.00 GBP $39.99 USD

Get yours here.

The Build Experience

The Bodega provides a steady and enjoyable build from beginning to end. Nothing feels particularly difficult or unnecessarily complicated. It is a straightforward, relaxing experience that is incredibly easy to move through.

Straightforward should not be mistaken for boring.

There is always something interesting happening, with numerous cutaways, removable sections and cleverly positioned access points.

Dedicated compartments provide access to the battery packs, part of the front window can be removed to reveal more of the interior, and an opening door at the rear allows you to reach the shop and its play features without dismantling large sections of the model.

As always with Lumibricks, the elements were neatly organised, cleanly presented and easy to identify. This maintains the rhythm of the build and allows you to enjoy watching the Bodega gradually take shape.

Design and the Lived-In City

I really like the design of the Bodega. It feels cohesive with Lumibricks’ other modular buildings and connects naturally with the company’s wider aesthetic of a genuinely lived-in city.

One of my biggest issues with LEGO’s modular buildings is that everything often feels pristine. They are beautiful, but they do not always resemble places in which people actually live and work.

Perhaps they are not supposed to. LEGO may understandably feel that play should not become too grounded in reality, and I appreciate that this will appeal to many people.

For me, however, choice is important.

Lumibricks walks the line beautifully between creating a cityscape that is visually attractive and one that still feels real. Small imperfections, signs of daily life and carefully observed details give a model character. They make it feel like part of a functioning city rather than simply a pristine display piece.

Detail really matters to me, and the detail throughout the Bodega is beautifully conceived and exceptionally well executed.

It feels as though Lumibricks has taken the strongest ideas and lessons from its earlier modular buildings, refined them and confidently deployed them here.

Colours and Printed Elements

The Bodega makes excellent use of colour. Its vibrant selection of elements gives the shop a warm, busy and authentic character without making it feel untidy or overwhelming.

One of the greatest highlights is the abundance of printed elements.

I genuinely lost count.

Every printed element was produced to an exceptionally high standard. The graphics are colourful and beautifully designed, while the printing itself is crisp, clean and incredibly tidy.

From the main signage to the smaller products and decorative details, the graphics bring the Bodega to life. They make the shop feel busy and believable without allowing it to become visually cluttered.

Brick Quality and Construction

The brick quality is excellent, as always with Lumibricks. Clutch power is excellent, with every piece connecting firmly and securely.

The bricks and other elements feel robust, resulting in a sturdy finished model that can be handled and moved without concern.

The only problem I encountered involved the minifigure arms. This does not appear to be a general quality issue with the bricks, but rather a weakness in the design of the arms themselves. If you attempt to remove one and apply pressure in the wrong place, it can snap.

This is unlikely to affect builders who assemble the minifigure once and leave it intact. However, anyone wishing to remove or replace the arms should handle them carefully. It is a small issue, but one Lumibricks should examine in future minifigure designs.

Lighting

The lighting is excellent, as I have come to expect from Lumibricks.

I particularly love the company’s wider system, which allows compatible modular buildings to share their lighting when connected. It is a clever approach that helps individual models feel like parts of one illuminated city.

The Bodega does not dramatically change that established system—and it does not need to. The wires are carefully concealed, the lights are skilfully positioned, and the completed effect complements the building without overwhelming its details.

My advice to anyone building a Lumibricks set is simple:

Trust the process.

There are moments during the lighting installation when I still begin to panic. A cable may not appear to be heading in the right direction, or it may be difficult to understand how everything will eventually be hidden.

Two pages later, it all makes sense.

This is not an issue with the instructions. Integrated lighting requires a slightly different way of building, and becoming comfortable with it takes time. As my trust in Lumibricks has grown, I have learned to follow the instructions and allow the intended solution to reveal itself.

Lumibricks will not steer you wrong. :)

Minifigure

The Bodega includes one minifigure, which is entirely appropriate for a set of this nature.

As many of you know, minifigures produced by alternative brick companies are rarely a major selling point for me. That said, it was pleasing to see Lumibricks representing diversity not only through ethnicity but also through age.

The character feels appropriate for the setting and reinforces the impression that this Bodega belongs to a real, lived-in community. It is a thoughtful choice and demonstrates how even one minifigure can contribute something meaningful to a model’s identity.

Display

The Bodega is a beautiful little set that looks completely at home within a city.

Its compact footprint makes it easy to incorporate into an existing street without sacrificing character or detail. Despite its modest size, it possesses enough colour, texture and personality to stand confidently alongside Lumibricks’ larger buildings.

It does not feel like an isolated display model.

It feels like a genuine part of the neighbourhood.

Value for Money

At the time of writing, Lumibricks has not confirmed the recommended retail price. Based on comparable models within this range, I expect it to cost somewhere around £65. (Edit... 39.99 wow).

If that estimate proves accurate, it is absolutely worth the money. (Edit... it didnt...nearly half the price).

The excellent brick quality, integrated lighting, abundance of printed elements and detailed design combine to offer genuine value. Despite its compact size, the Bodega feels complete, substantial and filled with character.

At approximately £65, I would have no hesitation in describing it as excellent value for money. (Edit... at 39.99 is definitely is).

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed building the Bodega. Its design and theme capture everything I appreciate about Lumibricks’ approach to creating a lived-in city.

It is colourful without becoming overwhelming, detailed without becoming cluttered and realistic without sacrificing beauty.

As an independent model, the Bodega is a very good little set and earns:

Standalone Score: 7.5 out of 10

Its greatest strength, however, becomes apparent when it is placed alongside Lumibricks’ other modular buildings. It integrates seamlessly into the wider streetscape, adding colour, character and another layer of everyday life.

Within a Lumibricks city, it earns:

Lumibricks City Score: 8.5 out of 10