Assembly Square is slightly different from previous modular building sets. There is a separate box inside the main box that contains bags numbered four through six. The main box has bags one through three and the base plates. The instructions are in a separate package, but there is not cardboard backing to it. To be fair the book is quite thick so I don't think it will fold up during shipment. Has anyone had this issue yet? Also, no stickers. YAY!
To start off, there are three bags labeled #1. The first part of the build is uses the 2 base plates. One base plate is the standard green 32x32 studs and the other is 16x32 studs in green as well. I haven't seen this one used in a while, but I do have some from when I was a kid. Like the other modulars, this one contains a piece separator. Here is the final build for the first set of bags..
The designs for the sidewalks and floors are pretty intricate. The addition of some angled tiled pieces in light gray and dark gray help to make it more detailed too. The addition of some 1x2 plates with one stud help with play-ability later on when the various stores are finished and minifigs need to stand.
The carriage is part of the first set of bags. It's a simple design as can be seen here.
Next up is the second set of bags which includes 7 bags of bricks. This includes the bakery and the flower shop along with a baker minifig and a minifig to work in the flower shop.
First off... the bakery. The left picture shows the front. I like the use of the garage door pieces for the front window. The design to add them in is pretty easy, but not something I would have thought of on my own. Go Creator Expert team! You can see the wedding cake in the front with the "wedding couple" on top. The bakery has some great details to includes some cakes and other pastries on display throughout the store. It also has an oven to cook the various items, but really no area to bake in. I get it... not a lot of space and the designers did what they could given the space they had.
The flower shop is next and I included a top view here. It is very detailed with various sizes of flowers. As you can see, there is a bird and I think it is the first time there is a bluish-yellow bird. Also, the design of the flowers that can be handed from one minifig to another is a first that I recall from any sets. In this picture they are located right behind the minifig in a stand on the wall.
Above are pictures of the front and back. The flower shop is actually completed in the next set of bags. You can see the front of the bakery a little better with the pretzel on the front of the store and then I am also a fan of the bottom part of the half circle that will be completed in a later build as part of the floors above the bakery. The awnings on the flower shop are fun shades of pink/purple too which help the store to standout.
The cafe makes up bag 3 with 4 bags of bricks. The cafe is chuck full of some great details. As you can see above, it includes a female barista and then a small dog. Above and to the left is the front and exterior. There is a fun 3D logo above the door for the coffee brand. The steam coming out of the cup is a genius design. The chairs on the outside are much fancier than the ones from the original Cafe Corner back in the day. Inside, there's a couch by a table with some chairs and some fun lamps and various foods on the tables. The barista has a small work station and cash register. It definitely looks like a cozy place to sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Next are pictures of the front and back of the set after the 3rd set of bags are done. The left shows the completion of the flower shop to include the 3D flowers and some additional design to the front facade. You can see on the right that the back of the flower shop has translucent green and clear pieces to let some natural light into the store. You can see the window placement on the cafe and the green plant growing up the back of the cafe as well.
So far so good. No complaints yet. Onto the rest of the build...