Because of the Lockdown , he wants to make Lego Timmies a reality

Aaron Chapman, the master Lego builder, spent six months creating the coffee shop set
Make it a double-double, but in Lego block form.

Aaron Chapman, 45, has been building Lego since he was four years old. He took a brief hiatus in his late teens to early 20s, but that spark reignited when his parents downsized their home and gave him back a box of his stuff. When he rummaged through the items, he discovered all his old Lego blocks.

The Clarington TTC train operator wants to take his talents and showcase Canada on the Lego world stage.

“Canada keeps getting the short end of the stick when it comes to the world market. Lego is no exception to that,” he explained.

He’s created an entry to have a Tim Hortons shop made by Lego and then manufactured and sold as a set.

Two years ago, he attempted to do the same by building a TTC subway and managed to get 10,000 votes, but it never went further.

Aaron Chapman designed and built a Lego TTC subway train two years ago. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED /AARON CHAPMAN
“Lego killed it because it wasn’t broad enough, because Toronto is only one market,” he said. “So I thought of other things that are Canadian that are more than one market. Tim Hortons was the first thing I thought of.”

Chapman submitted the Timmies design last week and as of now, has roughly 500 votes. He needs 1,000 in a month to move on to the next round, but ultimately, 10,000 votes by March 2023 is what will be necessary to have Lego judges evaluate whether the Canuck coffee shop mock-up will become a reality.

“So nerds like me will design something and submit it and if they get enough support, they’ll consider it to become an official set,” he said. “Just because it gets 10,000 votes doesn’t mean they’re going to make it, if there’s licensing issues or practicality.”

Aaron Chapman designed and built a Tim Hortons Lego store and if he gets 10,000 votes, Lego may manufacture it. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED /AARON CHAPMAN

His urban Tim Hortons set measures 32 x 32 studs (roughly 10″ x 10″) and reflects an urban setting with apartment units above the shop and is also a nod to all the hard-working restaurant employees who have struggled during the pandemic.

There are a variety of Lego people, ranging from young to old, all equipped with a Tim Hortons mug.

Inside the shop, there are booths set up, colour coded to Timmies brown and red colours, and a serving area full of doughnuts and coffee machines. In total, there are roughly 2,000 pieces that make up the scene.

Chapman, who has a background in graphic design, said he began executing his mock-up about a year ago, near when the pandemic begin.

Aaron Chapman designed and built a Tim Hortons Lego store and if he gets 10,000 votes, Lego may manufacture it. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED /AARON CHAPMAN“I designed it with 3D software first, when you’re designing with real bricks, you have to undo everything, but with digital, you can just pull it out and pop it back in,” he said.

“That was probably 20 or 30 hours. Then I had to source the parts, order them and build it. So the process took about six months. The number one complaint I had when I made the TTC lego train was it was too big, too many parts, too expensive.”

Tim Hortons said it gave Chapman permission to use its logo in his set.

“We love it,” said Mary Lowe, the company’s vice-president of public affairs. “Aaron’s passion and attention to detail in crafting his own Tim Hortons restaurant out of Lego, right down to the Smile Cookie posters and Hero Cups decals on the windows, is awesome.”

“We’re always thrilled to see our guests express their love for Tim Hortons and this is one of the most creative expressions we’ve seen yet,” she added.

People can vote for Chapman’s Tim Hortons shop at https://bit.ly/3tblE6y.

Jenny Yuen