Beyond Bricks, a 15-month-old business in New Town where customers of all ages could go to play with Legos, will close today unless its landlord agrees to let it remain open until the end of the month.
The owners of the business took to crowdfunding website GoFundMe last week, acknowledging they had “pie in the sky eyes” when they decided to open Beyond Bricks in a central location in New Town.
Consequently, they said they are $20,000 behind on the rent and that donations from the public could help save the business. The landlord said the business must pay the debt in full by today or else the eviction process would begin, according to the GoFundMe page.
The owners, Daniel and Adrienne Smith, appealed to the landlord to allow them to remain in the space until the end of the month, but as of Thursday evening, the landlord has not responded. The GoFundMe page set a goal of $50,000, of which $2,593 was raised by Thursday afternoon.
The Smiths have been trying to renegotiate the terms of the lease with Connecticut-based landlord Developers Realty Corporation but have so far been unsuccessful. Daniel Smith praised the landlord in a Thursday afternoon interview and noted New Town is a good location.
“Please understand that we accept full responsibility for the position we are in,” the Smiths wrote in a post on the Beyond Bricks Facebook page. “We simply bit off more than our brand new start-up business could chew, and that’s the truthful bottom line.”
Daniel Smith said Thursday he would like to reopen the business in a place with lower overhead expenses.
“If we can figure out something that allows us to [reopen at another location], then we will,” he said. “We’ve created a pretty good following. We want to continue in some fashion.”
Beyond Bricks offers customers the option to come in for open play sessions where they can build with Legos and other toys. It also offers classes and activities that allow customers to paint, shape dough and play with water beads.
If it closes, the Lego-inspired business would join Doncaster and Williamsburg Cupcake as New Town storefronts that have closed in the past two months.
Beyond Bricks is located at 4919 Courthouse St., in a space previously occupied by Conte’s Bike Shop until 2010. Conte’s subsequently reopened in New Town in a different location.
Beyond Bricks will be open Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Related Coverage:
