The LEGO City theme has somehow never produced a set based on a supermarket before. There has been space stations, airports, marinas and recycling plants, among many others, but never a place to buy your weekly shop. Instead throughout the years the city’s inhabitants have had to survive on a combination of hot dogs (2018’s 30356 Hot Dog Stand), popcorn (2019’s 30364 Popcorn Cart) and pizza (see the pizzeria included in 7641 City Corner from 2009), which you’ll agree is hardly the basis of a balanced diet…
This changed however with 60347 Grocery Store. Other themes and licenses have however provided spaces for their respective minifigures to go food shopping and Blocks, the LEGO magazine for fans, explores some of them below.
10185 Green Grocer
The ability to do the weekly shop has of course not been ignored by LEGO designers – one of the earliest modular Creator Expert sets, 10185 Green Grocer from 2008 provided inhabitants of your street the opportunity to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Outside the shop are crates of apples, cherries, and bananas, whilst inside you can buy some carrots plus some chilled items from the fridges. If this set were to be remade today, it may well be better stocked, but this is certainly one of the classiest places to go food shopping – it gives off Fortnum and Masons or Harrods vibes instead of quickly popping to the little Tesco down the street.
71016 Kwik-E-Mart
Ah, a trip to the corner shop – you go looking to buy bread and come out with chocolate milk, three ready meals and a big bag of sweets. With the variety on display in 71016 Kwik-E-Mart from The Simpsons, you too might go through a similar experience. You can buy cereal (a box of Krusty O’s), a Buzz cola, hot dogs, a Squishee slushy, dog food, donuts, soup for one… the list goes on and the set’s shelves and freezer section are fully stocked with items (and references) from the show. Just make sure you’ve got cash when you go, as Apu has a sign that clearly states ‘No checks, credit cards, food stamps’ below the register.
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76388 Hogsmeade Village Visit
It was noted earlier that the food offerings available in the LEGO City world have to-date focused on the not-so-healthy options. Well, it seems wizards also live on a rather restrictive diet, for in 76388 Hogsmeade Village Visit you can pop along to the colourful Honeydukes sweet shop. Inside Honeydukes you’ll find some Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and Acid Pops, among many other tantalising treats. Do wizards suffer from cavities? Who knows, but with so many sweets around, it’s certainly plausible!
41108 Heartlake Food Market
In 2015, 41108 Heartlake Food Market provided the mini-doll inhabitants of Heartlake with the opportunity to buy a plethora of fresh produce and ingredients. There’s certainly plenty of choice at the market – cartons of milk and orange juice, jars of jam, a variety of fruit (apples, pineapples and cherries) and freshly baked bread are all available. If it’s takeaway food you’re after, then perhaps a trip to Heartlake from the world of LEGO Friends will provide a slightly healthier trip than to the LEGO City – for instance, pop to the 41035 Heartlake Juice Bar or 41701 Street Food Market for some alternative options. One thing’s clear – you won’t go hungry in Heartlake!
10193 Medieval Market Village
In a world where going to the supermarket poses many choices (some might argue too many choices), 10193 Medieval Market Village offers the opportunity for some simple, rustic fare. At the market, you can buy some fish (but make sure you haggle and flirt a little to get the best price) and some apples, but before you go make sure you have a quick trip into the tavern to buy some cheese and chicken (and don’t forget to wash it down with a glass of ale). Delicious!
