Lego opens first S.F. store

Lego opened its first store in San Francisco on Friday, drawing an excited crowd of building-block enthusiasts eager to see colorful Lego sets on display and the construction of an 8-foot ninja.

The 1,660-square-foot store, in Westfield San Francisco Centre on Market Street, is the fourth Lego retail location in the Bay Area. Others are in Santa Clara, Pleasanton and San Mateo.

Lego enthusiast Matt Kennedy had been to those other locations but never to a grand opening. So he drove to San Francisco from Crockett and arrived at the mall at 4:40 a.m., more than five hours before the store’s opening.

“It’s an awesome opportunity. There aren’t many Lego stores,” said Kennedy, a 32-year-old graphic designer. “It’s something I’ll always remember.”

Kennedy said he got into Legos when he was around 5 years old. He believes they played a role in him becoming a graphic designer, and today, when he feels stressed out, sometimes he builds with Legos to relax.

“It feels like I’m reconnecting with a part of my childhood,” Kennedy said.

An assortment of building blocks are displayed in a bin in the new Lego store at Westfield SF Centre shopping mall in San Francisco, Calif. on Aug. 26, 2016. An assortment of building blocks are displayed in a bin in the new Lego store at Westfield SF Centre shopping mall in San Francisco, Calif. on Aug. 26, 2016. Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Lego opens first S.F. store 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

Shoppers who come to the store this weekend and are willing to spend a certain amount will receive additional goodies. On Friday, shoppers who spent at least $50 received a Lego-themed backpack. Kennedy spent just under $100, and plans to return on Saturday and Sunday, so that he can buy more items and receive bonus gifts like a Lego store set and set of Lego figures.

A Lego master builder is constructing an 8-foot-tall version of Jay from the Lego Ninjago line that will be dismantled Sunday evening.

Wendy Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: wlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thewendylee