For car owners, the rising costs of auto repairs can be a significant financial burden. Patrick Denny, a Detroit resident, understands this all too well. Instead of dreading the mechanic’s bill for his 2006 Ford Focus, he took matters into his own hands at My Mechanics Place in Livonia, a sprawling do it yourself car repair garage. Working on his shocks and trailing arm bushing, Denny, grease-stained and surrounded by rented tools, grinned with the satisfaction of a job well done and significant savings in his pocket.
“It can be a pain to do it yourself, but it’s worth it to save $1,500 to $2,000,” Denny stated, a testament to the financial relief offered by DIY car repair garages.
My Mechanics Place, located on Plymouth Road, is not your average auto shop. It’s a massive 18,000-square foot facility boasting 22 service bays, a professional paint booth, a well-equipped machine shop, and even a U-Haul distribution service. For just $25 an hour, you can rent a bay with a lift, or $12 an hour for one without, along with access to an extensive tool collection.
Denny, who learned about this automotive haven from his doctor, has become a regular, spending five to eight hours weekly working on his car. YouTube tutorials have been his guide, transforming complex repairs into manageable DIY projects.
“I live in an apartment in Detroit. I don’t have the tools to do the repairs, and apartments won’t let you work in the building parking lots,” Denny explained. “And I’m saving thousands doing it myself” thanks to this do it yourself car repair garage.
The Vision Behind the DIY Garage
The concept of My Mechanics Place is the brainchild of Jay Rabaut, 55, a Livonia local. The idea sparked in the mid-1980s during his Navy service and solidified into a business model nine years prior to opening.
Rabaut, a plumber and father of nine, was seeking a path to retirement and a way to fund his children’s college education. In 2010, while driving home, he prayed for guidance. “Lord, what can I do? What else can I do?” he recounts. That prayer was answered with a clear vision: a space where individuals could rent bays and tools to perform their own car repairs – a do it yourself car repair garage.
Turning this vision into reality took years of effort and patience. Initially, gaining traction and profitability was a challenge. However, today, especially on weekends, My Mechanics Place is a hub of activity. The sound of revving engines, clanking tools, and humming impact wrenches fills the air as all 22 bays are typically occupied. Rabaut often has to turn away customers, highlighting the popularity of his do it yourself car repair garage. Each bay sees an average use of two to eight hours. Rabaut advises booking in advance to secure a spot in his sought-after DIY space.
He estimates welcoming 12 to 25 new customers each week, with many regulars dedicating multiple days and hours to their automotive projects. “Some wives call us ‘the other woman,'” Rabaut jokes, referencing a customer’s lighthearted complaint about the time spent at My Mechanics Place contributing to his divorce.
Unlock Big Savings at a DIY Car Repair Garage
Strategically positioned opposite Ford Automatic Transmission Operations in Livonia, My Mechanics Place prominently displays “Do it yourself,” clearly signaling its core offering.
Beyond the bays equipped with lifts, a dedicated “tool crib” houses thousands of tools available for rent at just $5 an hour. The tool rental system operates similarly to a library, ensuring efficient check-in and check-out. Specialized tools like torches and grinders are also available at $10 per hour.
Adding to its services, My Mechanics Place became a U-Haul distributor in 2016. This supplementary business provides a stable revenue stream, particularly during slower periods for the repair shop.
The financial advantages of utilizing a do it yourself car repair garage are substantial. Rabaut illustrates this with tire mounting and balancing. While tire stores might charge upwards of $30 per tire, totaling $120 for a set of four, My Mechanics Place offers a significantly cheaper alternative. Renting a flat stall for $12 an hour and a tire machine for $10 an hour brings the total cost to just $22 for all four tires.
Image alt text: Patrick Denny, a DIY car enthusiast, repairs the suspension of his Ford Focus at My Mechanics Place, a do it yourself car repair garage in Livonia, highlighting the accessibility and resources available for amateur mechanics.
For those new to DIY car repair, guidance is readily available. My Mechanics Place employs two certified mechanics who provide advice and support. While they cannot perform repairs themselves due to liability reasons, and customers are required to sign waivers, their expertise is invaluable. Rabaut emphasizes that, on average, customers save between 60% and 80% on car repairs by using his do it yourself car repair garage.
“It’s all about time too. If we can see a way to save them time, we will. If we can see a tool that’ll help them, we offer it,” Rabaut explains, highlighting the customer-centric approach of his business.
Exploring Other DIY Car Repair Garage Options
My Mechanics Place isn’t the only option for DIY car enthusiasts. Gearheads Rent-A-Bay in Waterford offers similar services, providing bays and tools for self-service auto repair. While smaller, Gearheads serves around 15 customers weekly, charging $20 an hour for a bay with a hoist and $12 an hour for a flat bay. Tool rental is available for $10 a day, according to co-owner Nathan Klein.
Gearheads, established around the same time as My Mechanics Place in July 2015, features three bays with lifts, one without, and even a motorcycle lift. Unlike My Mechanics Place, Gearheads does not have certified mechanics on staff.
Klein mentions that the DIY garage concept dates back to the 1970s, inspired by military base hobby shops and a gas station owner in Oxford who rented out his garage space after his mechanics left.
A Hub for Both Amateurs and Pros
Regulars at My Mechanics Place range from everyday car owners to seasoned professionals. Some rent larger workspaces monthly for ongoing projects on vehicles and even boats.
Of the 22 bays, eight are equipped with car lifts, including two heavy-duty lifts capable of handling 43,000-pound trucks. The facility caters to a wide spectrum of DIYers, including dedicated gearheads like Jason Robertson.
Robertson, a clay modeler at Ford Motor Co. by day, is a renowned AC Cobra restoration specialist in his spare time. Owners of these valuable classic cars hire Robertson for his expertise. He initially came to My Mechanics Place two years ago to utilize the paint booth, priced at $100 per hour or $400 per day. While seemingly expensive, Robertson points out that outsourcing the same paintwork would cost him around $12,000.
“I couldn’t do it without this place,” Robertson acknowledges, while preparing an AC Cobra side panel for painting. “I don’t have temperature control at home, and this is very messy work.”
Over 14 years, Robertson has restored approximately 40 AC Cobras, often taking a week off from his Ford job for each project. Using the paint booth for about $700 per car, he restores three to four Cobras annually, earning around $10,000 per restoration.
Image alt text: Jason Robertson, a professional car restorer, utilizes the paint booth at My Mechanics Place, a do it yourself car repair garage, to work on a classic AC Cobra, highlighting the facility’s appeal to both hobbyists and professionals.
DIY Car Repair Garage: A Lifeline During Layoffs
Robert Vanorden, another regular at My Mechanics Place, found the facility particularly crucial during a career transition. After seven years at the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck plant, assembling Cadillac sedans, Vanorden was laid off in February.
Facing job loss, Vanorden had already prepared a backup plan, thanks to My Mechanics Place. He had been renting a workspace for $500 a month since shortly after its opening in late 2015, intending to start a side business. He bought a used Ford Escape SUV for just $600, repaired it at the DIY garage, and sold it for $3,200 in early 2016, realizing a significant profit.
Since then, Vanorden and his 21-year-old son, Robert Vanorden Jr., have fixed and flipped around 35 used cars, learning repair techniques from TV shows and fellow DIY mechanics at the garage.
“I don’t have a garage; I repaired on the grass, on the snow, and on ice… where the next day you have to dig the car out,” Vanorden recounts. “So this place is a godsend. I get the knowledge of the other mechanics and the use of equipment. It’s invaluable.”
For Vanorden, My Mechanics Place is not just a workshop; it’s also become his primary source of income while seeking new employment.
From Navy Hobby Shop to Entrepreneurial Success
Even professional mechanics like Dewie Smith, an executive mechanic at Ford’s transmission center across the street, frequent My Mechanics Place. “I’m a mechanic by training,” Smith states, “This is a hobby for me.” He often uses the facility to perform free car repairs for friends, a common perk of being a mechanic.
Rabaut’s initial inspiration for My Mechanics Place came from a “do it yourself” car repair garage at a Navy base in the mid-80s. Helping a friend change a transmission at the base’s hobby shop, Rabaut was impressed by the concept of renting garage space and tools. “I was just floored,” he recalls. “You can come here and rent a garage for the day. I thought, ‘Man, why don’t we have these outside?’ I thought if I ever get a chance, I’m going to do it.”
Despite this early entrepreneurial spark, Rabaut pursued a career as a plumbing contractor and didn’t revisit the idea for nearly 25 years. After drafting a 23-page business plan for My Mechanics Place, he suffered a stroke in 2011, temporarily halting his dream. However, after recovering and finding a suitable building in 2014, he revived his plans. Startup capital remained a hurdle.
“I showed the business model to my father-in-law, and he thought it was a stupid idea,” Rabaut shares. “I told my dad about it, and he asked if I seriously thought people would pay me to fix their own car? I said, ‘Dad, there’s a lot of people who would do that.’”
Ultimately, his father supported his vision and helped raise the funds for a down payment on the building, previously occupied by Hitch House.
A Story of Perseverance and Community Support
My Mechanics Place opened its doors in August 2015, experiencing a slow start with only three customers in its first month. “The first year of business was expensive,” Rabaut admits.
By March 2016, he had fallen six months behind on mortgage payments, facing potential foreclosure. During a tense meeting with the property owner, a woman in the lobby overheard the situation.
“She said, ‘Did I hear that man right? Did he threaten to take this building away from you?’” Rabaut recounts, his voice filled with emotion. He explained his financial struggles and his readiness to give up. However, the woman’s response was transformative. “‘He’s not going to get this from you. God did not bring you this far for you to fail. So don’t you worry about a thing. Whatever I pray for, I get, and I’m praying for you, honey, and you’re not going to lose this building,'” she declared.
This unexpected encouragement provided Rabaut with renewed determination. He secured financing and persevered. “I did not lose the building,” he affirms. “It was miraculous.”
Image alt text: Jay Rabaut, the founder of My Mechanics Place, a successful do it yourself car repair garage, stands proudly in his Livonia facility, showcasing his entrepreneurial vision and commitment to empowering car owners.
Expanding the DIY Car Repair Garage Concept
By fall 2016, My Mechanics Place achieved its first break-even month. That year also marked the accidental addition of the U-Haul business. Initially intended to handle only a dolly and car transport, Rabaut unexpectedly became a U-Haul dealer when a 26-foot truck was mistakenly dropped off at his location. When his staff rented out the truck, realizing a quick profit, Rabaut saw a new opportunity. “Tell them we want more trucks!” he instructed.
Today, U-Haul rentals contribute up to 25% of My Mechanics Place’s monthly revenue. While the mechanic business peaks from October to May, U-Haul rentals are strongest from May to September, providing year-round revenue stability.
Since fall 2018, My Mechanics Place has been consistently profitable. Rabaut plans to expand to new locations in 2020 and potentially offer car repair courses, further empowering individuals to take control of their auto maintenance.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life because I’m helping people help themselves,” Rabaut concludes. “As a plumber … people treat you like a sub-servant. Whereas here, people are trying to get by, and they need a break, and we’re helping.”
Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.
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