MOORHEAD — The Fargo DIY Garage has moved into a new location across the Red River in Moorhead.
Appropriately, owner and military veteran Chris Partridge reopened the business on Friday, November 11 at 2320 2nd Ave. N. in Moorhead. The Fargo DIY Garage shares the location with Mr. mechanic.
Partridge opened the business in June 2020 at 901 Westrac Drive in Fargo. He worked there for nearly two years before temporarily closing the store last April.
Since then, Partridge has been on the hunt for a location where the numbers would add up, which he now believes he has found. It’s all the better that he’s now also linked to a fellow veteran company. “It was very coincidental for both of us,” he said.
Not only is the new location good for Partridge, but it also solves two major dilemmas he faced at his previous store.
David Samson/The Forum
First, Partridge wanted to be connected to another mechanic both figuratively and literally. That gives customers peace of mind knowing that if a DIY repair job goes awry, they won’t need a tow truck to get professional help. “It just reinforces the whole thing,” Partridge said, because people don’t have to wonder what comes next when their project goes wrong. “That concern has essentially been addressed.”
It’s a scenario that rarely happened in the past, but no less an added benefit. Partridge does his part to make sure aspiring grease monkeys don’t get too far over their skis on a repair, and warns people when it’s best to defer to a professional. “I like to make sure everyone succeeds in DIY,” he said. “I really try to steer the whole relationship to success from start to finish.”
The other added feature of the new Fargo DIY Garage location is that Partridge now offers a tire fitting machine. Because tire mounting machines can be dangerous, Partridge doesn’t allow amateurs to use them, though he offers tire mounting services for $40 to those who already rent a repair station.
Aside from these two improvements, the Fargo DIY Garage offers similar amenities to when it first opened, with Partridge providing the same special tools and computer software needed for just about any project. “You can work on your car, whatever needs to be done on your car, basically I have the stuff to do it,” he noted.
Appointments at the Fargo DIY Garage are available Thursday through Sunday. Partridge has three stalls available on Thursdays and Fridays, one on the ground and two with lifts. On the weekends when Mr. Mechanic is closed, the available space expands to six bays, and three more are added with elevators.
The rental rate for the ground box with tools is $25 per hour. When customers bring their own tools, the same rate applies for a stand with a lift. An elevator car with all tools is available for $40 per hour. Partridge also offers spare parts at discounted rates.
All told, Partridge estimated that a DIY repair can save people between 25% and 50% on a project.
David Samson/The Forum
As for the name of the company, Partridge plans to stick with Fargo DIY Garage, which he says is a conversation starter now that he’s based in Moorhead.
About seven months after closing, Partridge is excited to be back in business. He has had “a lot of fun” meeting people on the road and wants to help people solve their car problems. “I’m just happy to be back in it. I have really enjoyed it. I enjoy the conversation, I enjoy the people, the company, the work,” he said. “I like figuring things out.”
David Samson/The Forum
WHAT: Fargo DIY Garage
WHERE: 2320 2nd Avenue N., Moorhead
HOURS: Appointments possible from Thursday to Sunday
PRICES: Range from $25 to $40
ONLINE:
fargodiygarage.com and Facebook
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