Building a Community, Brick by Brick: A Letter from BuffaLUG President Eric Santiago on Two Years of Celebrating LEGO

BuffaLUG began as an online Facebook group, but since then, it has grown into a flourishing LEGO fan community that feels like a family. As a Buffalo native from the westside of the city, I am particularly proud to see the impact that the group has had on the local AFOL(Adult Fan of LEGO) scene. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the city that raised me and to share my love for LEGO with others.

Recently, we celebrated our 2-year anniversary with a festive gathering at our home base, Pearl Street Grill and Brewery. Despite being founded only in 2021, the group has already established itself as a prominent force in the Western New York community. We have displayed at several local shows, and our members have even ventured out to a few LEGO conventions, including Brickfair and Brick World Chicago.

Our first in person meeting 6/28/21

The group was created to provide a platform for builders and collectors to come together and share their passion for the brick. Our members, who come from all walks of life, share a common love for the art and science of LEGO building. When the group was first founded, we decided to adopt a strategy of organic growth. Rather than focusing on rapid expansion or aggressive marketing, the group aimed to cultivate a community of like-minded LEGO enthusiasts through word-of-mouth and grassroots efforts. This approach has proven to be successful, as the group has steadily grown over the past two years and now boasts a robust membership base. By prioritizing the quality of the community over the quantity of members, we have created a welcoming and supportive environment for AFOLs in WNY. This has helped the group to attract new members who are passionate about LEGO.

As BuffaLUG looks ahead to the future, we remain dedicated to our mission of promoting LEGO building in the region. We will continue to engage with the AFOLs & fans of all ages through events, collaborations, and outreach programs, inspiring creativity and innovation among our members and those we connect with. With our collective dedication and love for LEGO, we are confident that we can spread the joy of building to even more people and make a positive impact in WNY Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we look forward to what the future holds for BuffaLUG!

Sincerely,

Eric Santiago