With the not-so-well-kept secret that the LEGO The Simpsons Kwik-E-Mart set will be coming available for LEGO VIPs in just over a month, it was only a matter of time under the set was fully revealed in all its hi-res photo brick-built glory. And that time is now! Coming to LEGO Stores April 15, 2015: the LEGO Kwik-E-Mart 71016!

UPDATE: The LEGO Kwik-E-Mart set is now available for order for LEGO VIP members! Remember–you have to log into your account before you can add the set to your cart!

One of the most famous sites in all of the Simpsons’ fictional town of Springfield is the Kwik-E-Mart where Apu Nahasapeemapetilon works (and yes, I know how to spell “Nahasapeemapetilon” without looking it up–I’m a nerd). As soon as it was announced that LEGO had The Simpsons license, long-time fans of the series started dreaming of a LEGO version of the iconic Kwik-E-Mart being created.

I genuinely had my doubts that LEGO would go beyond the initial LEGO The Simpsons House 71006 playset that they release last year, but rumors of a LEGO The Kwik-E-Mart set began to while hot and heavy in the second half of 2015, and finally this dream set has come to fruition!

Yes, I was afraid that the Kwik-E-Mart sign might just be stickers based off of the teaser photo that leaked last week, and the hi-res photos confirm it. On the bright side, at least the ‘E’ in”Kwik-E-Mart” is brick-built, right?

I was curious about how LEGO was going to execute the Kwik-E-Mart set and whether it would just have a removable roof (similar to the LEGO Modular Buildings) to view the interior or what. Well, as it turns out, this set will have the same unfolding feature that the LEGO Simpsons House 71006 does.

This is a good thing, because it means that we’ll be able to move minifigures around much more easily, and play at paying for overpriced, expired products to our hearts’ content!

The Kwik-E-Mart LEGO set is rife with details and inside jokes from the cartoon series, with references to Squishees, Buzz Cola, Tofu Dogs, Krusty-O’s, Bumblebee Man, and even a decal of Frostillicus (AKA Jasper) frozen in the freezer!

Containing 2,179 pieces for $199.99, I’m actually a bit shocked by the strong price-per-piece value in this set. Ordinarily licensed themes like The Simpsons carry a premium cost to pay for the licensing, but in this case we’re paying a very reasonable 9.1 cents per piece. Thanks, LEGO!

If there’s one thing I know is going to bum some people out about this set, it’s the minifigure selection. LEGO 71016 includes six minifigures: and five of them are characters we already have (with the new LEGO Apu minifigure in his work clothes as the fifth quasi-repeat).

The new LEGO Chief Wiggum minifigure is also a minor variant, as he’s got jelly from his doughnut on his face and uniform. I can see the thought that went into this figure, but it still feels like one of the biggest cop-out (no pun intended) variants I’ve ever seen.

Plain versions of LEGO Homer, Bart and Marge Simpson? Really…? I would imagine that a good portion of the collectors willing to pay $200 for this set already own those three main characters in minifigure form, but evidently LEGO thinks this set won’t sell without half the minifigs included being from the main family. Disappointing!

Also, if core Simpsons family members had to be included in this set, wouldn’t it have made more sense to include a Lisa Simpson minifigure, seeing as how this set includes Tofu dogs and the whole rooftop garden that only Lisa visits is part of this playset…?

The only truly exclusive character in this set is the LEGO Snake Jailbird minifigure. Snake looks good, and his inclusion as a true exclusive can only help the sales of the 71016 Kwik-E-Mart!

The 71016 LEGO Simpsons Kwik-E-Mart set is now available exclusively through the online LEGO Shop and official branded LEGO Stores for LEGO VIP Members. The set will be available for LEGO VIPs on April 15, 2015 (tax day–yay!), with the general public release scheduled for May 1st, 2015. Like other popular sets such as the SHIELD Helicarrier and Slave-I this year, I can foresee the Kwik E Mart quickly going out of stock and onto backorder.

What do you think of the LEGO The Kwik-E-Mart set, Simpsons fans? Will you be shelling out $200 for this set this spring, or will you be passing on this hotly-requested LEGO Simpsons playset?