LGBTQ+-owned repair shop in Colorado paves new path

A trip to an auto repair shop can be full of anxiety, frustration and anger — especially for those who don't feel comfortable at garages.

But at Good Judy Garage in Sheridan, Colo., customers often finish appointments by asking technicians for a hug or crying happy tears.

Good Judy is an LGBTQ+-owned and -operated independent repair shop founded with the goals of equal treatment, compassion and transparency. The shop's core values may seem simple, but just talking to customers with respect goes a long way, said Soph Ives, the shop's manager and co-owner.

For Ives, the best interactions have been when the shop was able to help customers who were having bad days.

"Somehow, they found us, and we were able to help them in a way that they didn't even know was possible," they said. "That makes me sleep so good at night."

The 2,200-square-foot garage features two bays and three lifts operated by a five-person staff. Co-owner CC Haug founded the shop in 2021 after coming out as a transgender woman. She has worked on cars from an early age, eventually earning a degree in mechanical engineering and working in manufacturing.

But when Haug decided to transition, she felt those job cultures would not be as welcoming. That feeling, in part, inspired the founding of Good Judy Garage; Haug makes a point to champion the comfort and safety of staff and customers.

The name of the shop embodies that goal: A "good Judy" is an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, referencing famous supporter Judy Garland.

"I am being as true and honest and open about who I am as I can be," Haug said, "and that provides a level of comfort to customers."

Haug and the staff built a strong customer base — primarily of LGBTQ+ clients — with the shop's attitude of transparency and acceptance. Good Judy Garage had its busiest month to date in June, with all three technicians booked all hours almost every single day.

In Haug's previous blue-collar jobs, men dominated, and many often had little respect for women or LGBTQ+ people, she said. There are female-owned and other LGBTQ+-owned repair shops in the U.S., but they are few and far between.

"There is a deep-rooted perception that you have to be a big, masculine male to be able to do this or to be any good at it," Haug said.

Ives came to the shop after leaving a manufacturing job where they felt unsafe and objectified by male co-workers. Working at Good Judy Garage was eye-opening.

"It is a breath of fresh air," Ives said. "It is unlike any other place that I have ever worked in a blue-collar industry."

Good Judy Garage only advertises on its social media pages; as a result, most clients find the shop through word of mouth. The shop offers most mechanical repairs and automotive maintenance services but does not do bodywork.

Unlike the typical garage, Good Judy does not have service advisers or other intermediaries who bring information from the technician to the customer. Instead, it uses a more direct approach, Ives said. Technicians themselves speak with the customers about a repair, explaining what is wrong, what caused the issue and what can be done to fix it.

The goal is to create an environment where customers "don't feel like they are being talked down to," Ives said. "It has proven to be a really good way to keep people coming back."