Lumibricks The Bodega 26 (19017) Review – Small Shop, Big Atmosphere

I had been waiting for the Lumibricks The Bodega 26 19017 to be released for a while. As soon as it went live on the Lumibricks website, I could not hit the buy button quickly enough.

I am really enjoying these smaller-footprint sets, and pairing that format with Street Fusion, one of my favourite Lumibricks themes, gave this set a strong head start. The question was whether a 24 x 16-stud shop could still deliver the clutter, atmosphere and storytelling that make the larger Street Fusion buildings work.

It can. The Bodega 26 is quick to build, easy to display and absolutely rammed with details. It has the atmosphere of a busy New York corner shop, then adds the graffiti, cracked pavement and slightly rough edges that make Street Fusion feel like a proper neighbourhood rather than a row of clean display models.

Set Information

Lumibricks The Bodega 26 19017 Build Experience

This was a quick build for me at about two hours, but it never felt basic. There are plenty of studs-not-on-top techniques throughout the shopfront, signs and smaller assemblies. I always find a bit of SNOT construction spices up a build, especially when it is being used to create details rather than simply to make the instructions look clever.

Nothing felt boring or repetitive. The shop develops in small sections, and there is nearly always another shelf, sign, window display or street detail to piece together. That makes the build feel much denser than the 618-piece count suggests.

The printed instructions are clear, colours are easy to follow and the lighting stages are explained properly. Everything came together without drama, which is exactly what I want from a smaller set that I can finish in one sitting.

A Small Shop With a Proper Sense of Place

The 24 x 16-stud footprint is a very useful size. It can slot into a brick city without demanding another full baseplate, but it is also shallow enough to sit comfortably on a shelf. This compact format worked brilliantly on the Corner Photo Studio 19016, and it works again here.

What makes The Bodega 26 special is that Lumibricks has not treated the smaller footprint as an excuse to simplify the scene. Papi’s Grocery looks busy from every useful angle. The main sign dominates the front, while the pavement is filled with an ATM, newspapers, bottled drinks, a bench, a candy machine and the little pieces of street clutter that stop the building looking staged.

The New York influence is clear, but the Street Fusion treatment gives it extra character. There are graffiti panels, cracks and mismatched pavement details, a rooftop pigeon and a warning sign for the cat. At the back, a grey ladder leads towards the roof beside a large graffiti print, pipework, a box and more small bits of urban clutter. Even the rear wall has a story to tell.

The Deli Window and Interior

The side deli is one of my favourite sections. The serving window opens and has its own Papi’s Deli sign, printed menu and brick-built sandwich ready at the hatch. Behind the counter is a clear display holding hot dogs, so it reads as a working food counter rather than a decorative window added to fill the wall.

Inside, Lumibricks has packed in nearly everything you would expect from a small neighbourhood grocery shop. There is a full section dedicated to milk, along with cereal, groceries, sodas, bottled drinks, sweets and deli stock. The shelves are tight and the floor space is limited, but in fairness, so are plenty of real corner shops.

The density is the point. Every time I looked through another opening, I spotted something else. The shop feels stocked rather than decorated, and that is what gives the finished model its atmosphere.

The 48 Printed Parts Do the Heavy Lifting

There are 48 printed parts in this set, which is a huge number for such a small building. More importantly, they are not there just to inflate a specification. Nearly every print helps sell the idea of a shop that has been trading on this corner for years.

The huge Papi’s Grocery sign is the first one you notice. The multi-part print lines up cleanly once the panels are fixed to their backing, and the blue, orange and white colour scheme gives the front a proper New York shopfront look. Around it are printed windows advertising what is sold inside, ATM signs, menus, game controllers, newspapers and graffiti.

The large 8 Down Soda sign is another favourite. It looks very much like a playful nod to 7 Up, right down to the fizzy green styling, but it fits the slightly altered brand names used throughout the shop.

The street signs are the prints I always enjoy finding in Street Fusion sets because they often hint at where the neighbourhood might go next. I have already seen early images of Chinatown, but the second sign points towards Rick’s Arcade. That is not a confirmed set announcement, but an arcade would be a very welcome addition to this street.

Interior Access

Lumibricks has handled access very well. The rear wall swings open to expose the shop, and that moving section is not wasted. A fridge and more stock are attached to it, so opening the building reveals details on both sides.

The roof lifts away as well, which gives you a clear view down into the shop. The frontage can also be removed. It is not attached with studs, but it slots into place securely and never felt loose during normal handling. The window sill, shelf and counter can be detached too, so nearly every part of this small interior can be reached.

That matters on a set this crowded. There is no point putting 48 prints and a shop full of stock inside if the finished model hides all of it. Here, you can actually get in and appreciate what you built.

Lighting and Power

Three lights are included. One illuminates the interior, one throws light towards the main sign and a smaller light above the entrance has a red tinge. Together they reveal the shopfront and make the shelves much easier to see after dark.

I expected the interior to use a strip light, because that would feel more like the fluorescent lighting you often see in this type of shop. Instead, Lumibricks uses a small 1 x 1-style ceiling light. It is not quite as authentic, but it does the job and spreads enough light across the stock and counter.

Power is flexible. The included two-way adapter lets you connect the lights to the supplied USB cable or use the compact battery box. If you choose the battery option, the box slides neatly into the rear of the bodega and stays out of sight. The official materials indicate CR2032 batteries are required, but they are not included.

Papi The Boss, Boss Cat and the Pigeon

One minifigure is included: Papi The Boss. His blue workwear, white shirt, white curly hair and bearded face fit the shop perfectly, and he looks good either behind the counter or standing outside with the cat.

I am disappointed that he is the only person included. A shop this busy should have had at least one customer. I remember feeling the same way in my Lumibricks News Stand F9023 review, and while I know some builders are not interested in the figures, they have grown on me over the last year. I now see them as an important part of the story, and this set needed one more.

The animals help. Boss Cat belongs outside the shop, and the pigeon perched on the roof is exactly the kind of tiny detail I like seeing. I have always liked collecting minifigure-scale animals, so I am very happy to see Lumibricks adding more of them to recent sets.

Pricing and Value

The official Lumibricks price changes by shipping region. When I checked on 28 August 2026, The Bodega 26 was $39.99 USD for the USA and $52.99 USD for the UK or Europe. You can change the website currency to see the price converted into pounds, euros or another local currency at the latest rate, but Lumibricks says the checkout charge is still billed in US dollars.

The US price makes the value case much easier. At the higher UK and European price, 618 pieces may initially look expensive compared with some of Lumibricks’ larger buildings, which are often extremely good value. Smaller sets do not always look quite as generous when judged purely by price and piece count.

That simple calculation does not tell the whole story here though. You get 48 lovely printed parts, three integrated lights, flexible power options and a complete city scene that can be built in about two hours. The single figure is the only part of the package that feels light.

Personally, I think it is worth the asking price. However, as always with Lumibricks, you do not necessarily have to pay full price. My code THERIGHTBRICK gives you 10% off at the official store, and Lumibricks also runs other offers and sales. Amazon is also worth checking because its listings often receive vouchers or temporary discounts.

For direct orders, I normally use a fee-friendly card such as Revolut or Chase. In my experience, that can shave a couple of pounds off the final cost compared with a card that adds a foreign transaction fee. Card rates, allowances and fees can change, so check your own provider’s current terms before ordering.

Once a discount is applied, the recommendation becomes more straightforward. There is value in the footprint too. Smaller city sets are easier to display, easier to combine and much easier to justify when shelf space is already disappearing. I would happily see Lumibricks make more shops at this scale.

Where to Buy

I bought my set directly from Lumibricks. You can check the official listing or compare the current Amazon UK price below.

Official regional prices checked on 28 August 2026: USA $39.99 USD; UK and Europe $52.99 USD. Use the site’s currency selector to see an estimated local conversion, but the checkout charge is still billed in USD, so your card’s exchange rate and fees can affect the final cost. Prices and regional availability can change.

If you buy from the official site, you can use code THERIGHTBRICK for 10% off.

Transparency: The links below are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full Affiliate Disclosure for details.

Related Reading

Lumibricks The Bodega 26 19017 Release Overview
Lumibricks Corner Photo Studio 19016 Review
Lumibricks Skate Shop Review
Lumibricks Boxing Club Review

You can also browse the rest of the Street Fusion range.