Grand Rapids’ First Do-It-Yourself Auto Shop Is Opening Soon

Ever gotten an auto repair quote and nearly choked on your coffee? I feel that. But as someone who's admittedly NOT that car-savvy, sometimes it feels like you have no other options. Even if you've got the know-how, you don't always have tools or space to fix your own car.

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Well, something new is about to open up in Grand Rapids that tackles that problem head-on.

A New DIY Auto Repair Shop Is Coming to Grand Rapids

Over at 522 Stocking Ave NW on the West Side, a place called Wrench Club is getting ready to unlock its doors. It's billed as the area's first do-it-yourself auto repair shop and members-only clubhouse. The whole idea actually started the way a lot of good local projects do: over a few beers in a hot tub.

How Wrench Club Got Its Start

The co-founders are four local guys: Coleman, Derick, Mike, and Adrian. Between them, they have owned an auto body shop, worked at dealerships, and spent years working on everything from daily commuters to older German project cars.

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But a couple of them ran into a very relatable problem when they moved into downtown condos. They quickly realized a dark parking ramp is no place to fix a car, and crawling around on a cold driveway usually just ends with ruined clothes and oil everywhere.

So they decided to build the space they wished existed.

How Much Does It Cost to Use Wrench Club?

The setup operates a lot like a gym membership. You pay $9.95 a month for base access. That gets you into the clubhouse, which has racing simulators, lounge seating with a big screen TV for weekend races, and computer stations running AllData diagnostic software. That last part is huge for those of us who aren't mechanics, because it gives you access to the exact step-by-step repair manuals professionals use.

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When you're ready to tackle DIY car maintenance, you simply rent a garage bay by the hour. A standard flat bay with a fully stocked tool cart costs $25 an hour. If you need to get underneath your car, $35 an hour gets you a hoist bay with a two-post lift that their staff sets up and operates for you so you do not have to worry about safety. They also built a shared tool room with all the heavy, crazy-expensive equipment nobody wants to buy for a one-off job, like diagnostic scan tools, fluid extractors, and a 20-ton press.

When Will Wrench Club Open in Grand Rapids?

City planning approvals pushed back their original opening timeline over the summer, but they are in the homestretch now.

Wrench Club owners shared at the end of September that opening day is rapidly approaching:

If you want to keep tabs on when they officially open or grab a spot on their waitlist, head over to their Facebook page for updates.