Town Portraits
Brick Studio - Jon Houser
Jon Houser and his wife Meredith are the owners of the Bellefonte Brick Studio which first opened it's doors late last year. They have been a wonderful addition to the storefronts of Bellefonte and a real treasure to lego fans in the area. Here is their story.
Are you a Bellefonte Native? If not, where did you grow up?
I am a Bellefonte native and Meredith is from Unionville.
Tell us a bit about the Lego Store, Why legos?
I enjoyed building with LEGO when I was young. The LEGO Movie was released in 2014 when my son was 5 and it rekindled my love of the brick. Fortunately, I had all of my childhood bricks in the basement and we started to build. Meredith and I had always been collectors, so when we realized that sets were only made for a few years, we would buy any set that we may eventually want to build and put it in storage for later. That collection grew and grew and took over our house and garage. We would joke when we attended LEGO conventions that someday we could open a store. That “joke” turned into reality when we opened Bellefonte Brick Studio last July.
What is your favorite lego build? What is your dream build?
My favorite build is set 8860: Car Chassis released in 1980. I received it as a Christmas gift as a child. I love the working pistons, gear shift and adjustable seats.
My dream build would be to recreate Downtown Bellefonte in LEGO.
What do you love about Bellefonte?
As an adult, I love the history and architecture of the town, but I am also reminded of memories from my childhood. Visiting stores like Claster’s, Levine’s, Wolf Furniture, GC Murphy’s, Big B’s Baseball Cards and Plumb’s. Learning to swim at the YMCA, getting haircuts at Jabco’s Barber Shop, going to Dr Roger’s for a checkup or climbing what seemed to be a million stairs in the Bush Arcade to go to the dentist are just a few of the pictures that pop into my head when I walk along Bellefonte’s streets.
What do you want to see in Bellefonte in the next 5 years?
Continued growth of unique businesses that can help to promote the Bellefonte area, making it a fun destination to visit and to live in.
Anything you want to say to the Bellefonte Community?
Since opening the Studio, I have discovered many different groups who want to make Bellefonte a better place to live, work and play. If we want to have a vibrant community, we need to communicate and work together. With the amount of talented, creative and caring people that call Bellefonte home, we can achieve great things for the community.
Any final words and contact info .
Bellefonte Brick Studio is an extension of our family's love of LEGO. We enjoy watching the excitement on people’s faces when they come through the door. LEGO has an appeal for all. Whether it is an outlet for creativity or a calming escape from everyday life, Bellefonte Brick Studio wants to share the joy of building with little plastic bricks. If you ever have any questions or ideas, Stop in the Studio (104 N Allegheny Street), send us an email (info@bellefontebrickstudio.com) or visit our website (www.bellefontebrickstudio.com), we would love to hear from you.