Now that it’s the 20s again, we’re sure you’re looking for somewhere to restore that rusted out Ford Model T or Bentley Speed Six that your great grandparents once drove, and we’ve got good news on that front: Corner Garage has just filed paperwork to incorporate in the state of Georgia!

While this doesn’t mean we’ll be opening any time soon, it does mean that we’ll be able to kick off a funding drive and start accepting memberships. Keep your ears to the ground, we’ll have more on that front very soon.

In the mean time, if anyone does have a Bently Speed Six Blue Train gathering dust in their garage, are you interested in selling?

Corner Garage is hitting the road! These last few months we’ve been hard at work putting together a board, designing print materials, and pitching Corner Garage to anyone who would listen but we’ve decided it’s time to make a change: Corner Garage will no longer be opening in Austin. Instead, we’re uprooting once again and going back to the city of Atlanta, GA!

Atlanta has a thriving Co-op scene that includes everything from bike shops to grocery stores, and soon an automotive garage. We’re excited to help expand Georgia’s co-op economy! We’re not yet sure exactly where we’ll open Corner Garage Co-op yet, but we’re looking at locations ranging from Atlanta proper to Decatur to East Point. If you’d like to join us in our search, please reach out or subscribe to our mailing list for future updates!

One of the last things Corner Garage needs before we can start seeking funding is a dedicated board of directors to see us through our formative period. If you’re a Texas resident who’s passionate about cars, car repair, or even just the cooperative business model, consider running for the board of directors.

What is the board?

The board of directors is the governing body of a co-op. It comprises 5 members, one of whom serves as the president and another as the treasurer and secretary. Board members must be member-owners of the co-op themselves, and are elected by the other members. In our case board members serve 3 year terms, though they are free to step down at any time.

What does the board do?

The board is accountable to the owners and responsible for book keeping, recruiting new members, and for making the business decisions that keep the co-op running. Since we’re looking for an initial board of directors, they will be appointed instead of elected and their only real duty will be to recruit members and organize an election. They are free to stand in the election to keep their seats, or step down to make way for other members that may want to participate. Aside from that, the board is welcome to be as involved or uninvolved as their time and commitment allows. The board may help us search for funding, find a location, or renovate the space once we have it.

The board is a volunteer position, so a good candidate for the board doesn’t need prior business experience. Instead, they need to be passionate about the idea of Corner Garage and about serving the members. If enough funding is secured, some of the board could even become the first employees!

How do I join up?

If you’re interested in joining the founding board, contact us and we’ll get a coffee and chat. We can walk you through what we’re working on, where we plan on going with the business, and see if we both think it’s a good fit.

Welcome to the Corner Garage blog!

We’re a DIY automotive repair shop that’s planning on opening in South Austin. Because we’ve been formed as a cooperative, we’re owned and accountable to you, our member-owners. By becoming a member you can help us open our doors, but also get a lot of great benefits for yourself.

Here are just a few:

• Vote on our board of directors, policies, and bylaws
• Join the board or a committee and help run the business
• Get paid dividends if we have a profitable month
• Get discounts on bay rental, car storage, and other services
• Get access to our members-only hangout spot

We’re gearing up to start accepting memberships right now, and will post more information to this space when we’re ready for you. If you’d like to be informed when you can become a member-owner of Corner Garage, sign up for the mailing list below (don’t worry, we’ll keep the emails to a minimum).

If you’re interested in investing in Corner Garage, or have any questions about us, please contact us.