Canton Lego enthusiast gains TikTok following for massive collection

PLAIN TWP. ‒ As visitors step into Scott Brown’s basement for the first time, their jaws drop.

At the bottom of the stairs, the collector's claim to fame comes into view. His follow-worthy Lego collection includes 400,000 pieces. It's enough to extend 2.4 miles – or about 10 Empire State Buildings – if they're stacked together, brick by brick.

By day, Scott Brown is the program manager for donor relations at Summa Health, but during his free time, he is a Lego master and social media star.

Brown shares his collection on TikTok (@hoflego), where he has amassed more than 248,000 followers, 7.7 million likes and multiple fan messages exclaiming, "I want to be like you when I grow up!"

From iconic themed sets like Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley to custom creations such as a replica of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Brown’s collection has a little something for everybody.

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'This is 40 years of Legos. You’re not going to build this overnight.'

Brown found his passion for Legos at 5 years old, when he received his first set from his parents, a brick replica of an Exxon gas station.

It has been about 40 years since Brown built the miniature gas station. The set is dull and weathered – evidence of a well-loved toy.

Brown said he cannot estimate the monetary value of his collection due to decades worth of collecting and inflation. He noted the value of many individual mini figures – some ranging from $50-$350 each.

“We don’t spend near as much as you think," said Brown, who often receives Legos as gifts or makes purchases at local garage sales.

Brown, a former member of the editorial staff of The Canton Repository, attributes his large collection to time and patience.

“This is 40 years of Legos," Brown said. "You’re not going to build this overnight."

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Brown's family laid the foundation for social media stardom

Brown's wife, Darla, and their three children knew that his collection was a source of pride. Brown said his family encouraged him to share his hobby with the world.

It all started with a push from his teenage daughter, Maya.

“I’ve got three teenagers and my wife who have been pushing me to do something," Brown said. "My daughter finally created a TikTok account for me and started filming me building the Titanic. Now, that video has 40 million views."

The first set he ever built on camera for TikTok was the largest, most expensive set in his collection – 9,090 pieces and cost $679.99. The Titanic replica was a Christmas gift from his parents in 2021.

Brown posts new Lego content on TikTok, Instagram or Facebook daily, but having a following so large took some getting used to.

“In the beginning, I was a little spooked by the videos and followers, but I just interact with people, and I try to have fun with it," Brown said.

As he explained, his social media popularity would be impossible without the support of his family.

"We make it work together. Everyone has kind of had a part in this," said Darla Brown, who by day is vice president of digital services at The Karcher Group.

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Logan Nordahl, a fan and Lego enthusiast, takes a peek into Brown's world

One lucky fan, 10-year-old Logan Nordahl of Powell, had the opportunity to see Brown's world of Legos up close.

Nordahl is a young Lego collector himself. He frequently builds Lego sets with his family, visits Lego stores and watches collectors like Brown online.

One day, under special circumstances, Nordahl had the opportunity to visit Brown. While Brown does not typically conduct tours for followers, Nordahl is the nephew of a high school friend of Brown, so he made an exception.

"My Aunt Kelly went to high school with Scott, who told my mom, who showed me his online TikTok videos," Nordahl said.

After Nordahl watched the TikToks, he quickly became a fan. In March, Brown welcomed his old friend and Logan into his basement for a tour.

“She brought her nephew and his sister down and their jaws dropped to the floor," Brown said.

Nordahl was amazed by the collection. He said he is inspired by Brown and hopes to one day have a collection of the same size, and the ability to build anything he imagines.

“I was overwhelmed," said Nordahl. "I felt like I was in Lego heaven.”

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Brown built a Pro Football Hall of Fame from scratch

While trying to come up with a username for his social media accounts, Brown kept it simple. In honor of residing near Canton, he named his accounts after the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thus, Hall of Fame Lego was born.

Recently, Brown took it upon himself to build a Lego version of Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame from scratch.

Why? He had never seen it done before and wanted a challenge.

4,500 pieces later, Brown had a shockingly accurate replica of the Hall of Fame. The inside is lined with yellow Lego heads that represent the bronze busts of the Hall of Famers.

“He built that out of scratch from a picture in his mind," Darla Brown said. "A lot of people enjoy Legos. You get a set and instructions, and you build it, but the thing that I get so impressed with is watching him when he takes (Lego pieces) and builds it into something different.”

Brown attempted to submit his creation to Lego Ideas, a website where Lego enthusiasts can submit original designs. Unfortunately, Lego had a brick limit of 3,000, making Brown ineligible for submission.

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Building the future: ‘What’s the next thing dad?’

Brown's followers and his family are always eager to see his next big build.

“My kids have been on me, ‘What’s the next thing dad?’ We’ll see, we’ll see," Brown said.

The Hall of Fame Lego TikTok is flooded with comments, suggesting what Brown should build next. Nordahl said he hopes Brown will take on the challenge of building the Empire State Building. Other suggestions range from a racetrack to different models of cars and iconic buildings from movies or TV shows.

“He’s doing what he loves, and I think people latch onto that," Darla Brown said. “It’s exciting to see where the possibilities might take him."

To contact Abreanna Blose by email at ablose@gannett.com or by phone at 330-580-8513.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Scott Brown of Plain Township gains-social media stardom for Lego collection