DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — 25-year-old Anthony Petrillo has a passion for bricks -- Lego bricks to be exact.
“Just organizing them and putting the parts together, the creativity of Lego, it’s very inspiring,” Petrillo said.
Originally from New York, Petrillo graduated from Manheim Township High School and turned his passion into a business.
Bricks of Love USA is located at 16 Briarcrest Drive at the Briarcrest Square Shopping Village in Derry Township, Dauphin County, and has been a dream of Petrillo's. However, there was a point in time when many were unsure if this dream would be fulfilled.
“Back in 2019, I was diagnosed with cancer,” Petrillo explained.
Stage 4 Hodgkin’s-lymphoma to be specific, which nearly took Petrillo’s life.
“It was still very life-threatening, especially because I had Stage 4," Petrillo described. "I’m very fortunate because within a few months I probably wouldn’t have been here.”
It was during his treatment Petrillo rediscovered his love for Lego.
“During that time, I got back into Lego as an adult and since then I’ve always wanted to open a Lego shop,” Petrillo explained.
A hobby, transformed into therapy, spurred by a deadly disease that pushed Petrillo to live his life.
“Every day just getting a little piece done has been really exciting.”
Petrillo opened his shop in December. It offers old, used, and retired Lego sets and figures from a variety of themes.
His inventory consists of several rare and valuable figures from the Star Wars theme.
“Those are all $150–200 figures now,” Petrillo said.
Petrillo is offering 20% off purchases for veterans, doctors, nurses and first responders as extra appreciation for what they do this holiday.
Additionally, customers who spend $50 or more will be entered into a raffle for a 65-inch 4k Samsung TV.
In the future, Petillo hopes to donate 10% of all proceeds to charity.