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HERRIMAN — One of the world's most popular toys is now the country's most popular movie. But for one Utah family, "The LEGO Movie" hits a little close to home.
For the past 25 years, Alex Nunes has been fascinated with Legos. It began when he received his first set and blossomed into what is now a 270-square-foot miniature city in his basement.
Here, the trains run anytime, traffic is mostly at a standstill, the upscale restaurant is always packed, and the temple never closes.
“He’s built so many fun things that I thought it would be fun to add some religion to his city and balance it out a little,” said Mindy Nunes, Alex’s wife.
Alex broke the news about his hobby to Mindy when they were dating. He built the city’s hospital for her, since she's a nurse.
Now, Mindy has the favorite home of the neighborhood, and she loves that all of those small Lego bricks stay in one place.
“I don’t have to vacuum them up all day long, my baby won’t eat them, they won’t get stuck in the couch cushions,” she said. “So, it’s nice to have them all down here (in the basement).”
In the outskirts of town is the airport. The city also features an IKEA store, a race track, Chopper 5 and — just added Monday — KSL reporter Carole Mikita with photographer Matt Powers.
Alex and Mindy have two boys — Joshua and James, age 7 and 19 months. Their dad has wasted no time passing his love of Legos on to his sons.
“We pull out the bulk Legos and we just create spaceships, trains, whatever,” Alex said. “Creativity never ends.”
There’s no end in sight for the expansion of Herriman Lego City either. Next on the horizon: a skyscraper.
