Review: 40696 Bakery GWP and the entire LEGO Micro Store 2024 collection

October 15, 2024 | 3

LEGO’s October Double Points promotion is currently in full swing (all the details, sets on sale & more), running from 15-20 October, and to complement the 2x Points bonanza, LEGO are also offering a free gift with purchase (GWP) in the form of 40696 Bakery!

40696 Bakery is the 4th and final of the series of micro store models that you’ll get for free when you spend US$200 / AU$320 / £180 / €200 or more on LEGO.com, from 15-25 October 2024.

The 376-piece model is quite a fun build, and the 4th in the series, the Bakery has a bit of a unique look with a snowy sidewalk, and clumps of snow scattered across the upper levels and roof, giving it a nice Wintery/Christmasy vibe.

Here’s a look at the front, which has a small lampost, with a sign hanging from it denoting what the Store sells, which is consistent with the other 3 in the series, 40680 Flower Store, 40684 Fruit Store and 40692 Candy Store.

I really like the super-sized croissant above the entrance, and the giant cupcakes peeking out the windows.

The upper level can be removed for easy access to the interiors.

Despite these being quite small builds, the interiors are very cleverly designed, and in the case of the Bakery, filled with shelves, baked goods and even a couple of tables on the upper level.

Stickers are mostly used for the decorations, but I have to say that the graphics on these stickers are REALLY good. As they’re not from City, or Friends where you’re accustomed to see stickers, the art-style used in the stickers across this series is quite unique. With the Bakery, who wouldn’t want a sticker full of baked goodies like dinner rolls, baguettes and croissants?

For those collecting the GWPs from the 2024 micro store series, the Bakery represents the culmination of a very pricey endeavour.

Here are all 4 sets released this year, in each quarter 40680 Flower Store (Q1 March 2024), 40684 Fruit Store (Q2 April 2024), 40692 Candy Store (Q3 July 2024) and 40696 Bakery (Q4 October 2024).

At a redemption threshold of US$200 / AU$320 / £180 / €200 spend per set, you’d have to spend at least US$800 / AU$1280 / £720 on LEGO to complete the “Limited Edition” series.. which is frankly quite absurd when you see the numbers tabulated like that.

Special thanks to LEGO for sending the Bakery over for review. The other 3 in the series were purchased myself throughout the year.

Here’s a look at all 4 sets lined up together, to form an entire street of cute and colourful stores!

There are no pins, so they don’t really “lock” into each other like Modular Buildings but that’s a pretty easy modification to make.

With all 4 sets displayed together, I have to say that I quite like these micro stores! They have plenty of charm, and I was very impressed by how much detail the designers managed to squeeze into such a small footprint.

Each shop has a distinct colour scheme, and different features, but the Bakery does stick out a little because of the snowy footpath that doesn’t quite jive with the other stores, but not in a bad way.

If I wasn’t a hardcore collector… I don’t think this series was worth the money. The shops by themselves are charming and quite fun to build, so if they were available when you had a big ticket purchase lined up, they make for a pleasant bonus.

But as a Collectible Series that required you to spend US$800 / AU$1320 spread out across 4 purchases throughout the year.. they’re really not worth it, especially as they don’t come with printed elements, or any other rare or unique parts or minifigures that might command the premium price LEGO are asking.

Thankfully, 40696 Bakery does benefit for being available during a 2x Insider Points event, where there are also a concurrent Members Offers sale. Plus even if you aren’t looking to complete the collection, the Bakery does feel like a cosy Christmas-themed GWP that you can display with other Seasonal sets!

Again, shame these sets are gated behind such a huge spend threshold, because they’re really charming designs that I think a lot of LEGO fans would enjoy building and displaying. Of course you could always… rebuild them out of spare parts as the Instructions for each set are available online..

40696 Bakery is a gift with purchase when you spend US$200 / AU$320 / £180 / €200 or more on LEGO.com, from 15-25 October 2024.

What do you think 2024 micro Store series? Do you like the designs and would you like to see more like these from LEGO?

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To get the latest LEGO news and LEGO Reviews straight in your inbox, subscribe via email, or you can also follow on Google News, or socials on Facebook, Instagram (@jayong28), Bluesky or subscribe to the Jay’s Brick Blog Youtube channel.