What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 5pm

The Lift Garage

A nonprofit auto shop aimed to move people out of poverty by providing low-cost car repair in the Twin Cities area. We are grateful for all of your support!

With the support of our incredible community of donors and volunteers, The Lift Garage has grown to complete over 1,250 repairs! We have added 3 full time employed mechanics, a full time Executive and Operations Director, are open Tues-Saturday every week. Since opening in April of 2013, we have saved low income Minnesotans over $465,000 in car repair costs! We continue to seek grants and addition

al funding so that we may continue to meet the high demand of car repair and reduce our waiting list. If you would like to make a donation, head over to the donation page on our website: www.theliftgarage.org/donate.

06/02/2026

Which dashboard symbol are you today?

Similar to our bodies developing a fever, the car’s dashboard system can be an external representation of what is (or sometimes isn’t) happening under the hood.

Dashboard lights illuminating doesn’t necessarily signal an emergency or even that there’s a problem. For example, they all illuminate when you start your car, indicating that all systems are functioning.

Some dashboard lights can signify a system is engaged and functioning, such as #1 and #3.

Some illuminate briefly to provide a situational warning, such as #2 and #6.

Fortunately, some illuminate when a system is malfunctioning or not working at all – such as #4 and #5

Let us know in the comments how you’re doing today!

05/31/2026

At The Lift Garage, the roles of Service Writers (James, Oliver, Rachael) and Service Manager (Atom) extend far beyond the front desk. They serve as the connective tissue of the organization—bridging customers, technicians, and vendors—while shaping the overall experience of every person who walks through the door. As the first and often last point of contact, they embody the mission and values of The Lift Garage in real time, guiding customers through each aspect of their journey with care, clarity, and honesty.

What sustains the team in this demanding work is both the impact and the resilience they witness daily in our customers. Customers often express profound gratitude, reinforcing the importance of the work. Ultimately, what defines the Service Writers at The Lift Garage is not just what they do, but how they do it. They understand that when customers arrive, they are often carrying stress, frustration, or exhaustion. Meeting people where they are—emotionally and financially—is central to the role. Empathy is a daily practice.

Through every interaction, they reinforce the idea that excellence, opportunity, justice, and respect can coexist, creating not just safer vehicles, but stronger, more secure lives.

Pictured above from left to right – Atom, Rachael, James, and Oliver

05/28/2026

Throwback Thursday to when we were an all-volunteer lead organization – answering phones, wrenching on cars, finding parts, and hosting fundraisers. My, oh my, where has the time gone!!

While we’ve grown into a team of 17 who keep the wheels of our operations turning every day, volunteers remain at the heart of so much of what we do. From assisting with data clean up and stuffing mailers to securing silent auction donations and volunteering on committees, volunteers power our vision of Safe Cars, Secure Lives. Their dedication fuels our mission of providing low-cost car repairs for Minnesotans.

To learn more, check out theliftgarage.org/volunteer. Whether you’re interested in volunteering solo or you have a group that would like to get involved, we most likely have a role for you!

*Please note that we are unable to accept volunteer technicians or service writers

05/25/2026

Our shop is closed today in honor of Memorial Day. We’ll be open at 8:30am on Tuesday, 5/26, ready to serve our amazing community. Wishing you all joy and connections over the long holiday weekend!

05/22/2026

On the Road with Our Mobile Van Inspections

Sometimes a car just can’t make it to the shop—and that’s where our Mobile Van Program comes in. We literally meet customers where they’re at!

Our ASE-certified technician travels throughout the seven-county metro area to perform pre-inspections on vehicles that might be tough—or impossible—to bring in. Our mobile van program can diagnose a problem parked on a city street, in a driveway or parking lot.

This convenient service helps folks get honest, professional advice about their vehicle’s condition before deciding on next steps. It’s one more way we’re making car care easier and more accessible when customers need it most.

Currently, Mobile Van Inspection appointments are scheduled by phone through our service writers. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, you can call our shop. Please leave a voicemail if we do not answer. We will call you back!

P.S. If you work with a nonprofit shelter or multi-site housing community serving families experiencing homelessness and would like to schedule a visit from our mobile van program to inspect residents’ vehicles, please contact us at [email protected]. We’d love to explore potential partnerships.

05/20/2026

HUGE shout out and thank you to our extraordinary Accelerate Our Action sponsors!

These generous businesses are investing in our vision of Safe Cars, Secure Lives through sponsoring our event which means that 100% of the donations we received at the breakfast go directly towards serving our customers.

The Lift ensures we’re all safer on the roads by providing low-cost car repair to Minnesotans both at our shop and through our mobile van program. These businesses help power our mission. Our staff, board, customers, and broader community are beyond grateful for their support!

05/17/2026

Margaret Mary’s Legacy

If you ever came to our brewery event, you almost certainly encountered Margaret Mary Keating. She was posted at the entrance greeting you with a warm smile.

Retired from teaching and substance abuse counseling, she had more time than money but was generous with both. As the vision of The Lift Garage grew toward reality, and the first ask for money was made, Margaret Mary and her partner, Sharon, said yes.

After Sharon’s death, Margaret Mary became more involved. She used her skills of helping people through rough times by spending time in the lobby listening to customers, while calming them in the face of unexpected car expenses.

Margaret Mary genuinely shared with the customers the necessity of a working car. As her physical challenges limited her mobility, her dependable car allowed her to live and connect with others; always keeping her binoculars on the front seat for bird watching. She knew the isolation and limitations of a life without a car; she worked to help others not suffer those same limitations.

When news of her unexpected death came last year, we were surprised and saddened. When, a few weeks later, we heard that The Lift Garage was named as a $50,000 estate beneficiary, we were beyond surprised. And, yet, not surprised. Such a gift was perfectly in keeping with Margaret Mary’s fierce love for the Lift and generous spirit of giving. We are filled with gratitude for the gifts of her life and for the untold ways she will continue to pay-it-forward to people she will never know.

05/13/2026

We’re still feeling the love from last week’s spring breakfast, Accelerate Our Action! We were honored to host an inspiring morning celebrating and sharing about the work we’re doing to make low-cost car repair and honest advice a reality for all Minnesotans. Together, we raised over $80,000 to fuel our mission!

Through powerful remarks from staff, customers, community partners, and our founder, Cathy, the message was clear – the community that powers our work is essential. We’re so incredibly grateful to have your support in fueling our critical work to keep our neighbors safer on the roads.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the cool moms out there! Before you take your mother out to brunch, make sure that your car is safe and functional, especially with the temperatures heating up.

Be sure to keep your coolant filled at the right levels. If coolant is underfilled, your car runs the risk of overheating. If overheating persists after topping off, be sure to get your cooling system inspected for radiator blockages, leaks, or pump/thermostat issues. Different vehicles use different types of coolant, so be sure to check your owner’s manual for the type that is right for your car.

Stay cool and check your coolant (after calling your mom for Mother’s Day!)

05/09/2026

Special thanks to members of the Mini Birds of Minnesota Club for stopping by the shop for a tour before having lunch in the neighborhood! It’s fun to host car enthusiast to talk about the work we’re doing to keep the roads safer.

As a club that’s been around for a while and appreciates older things, we can relate given the average age of cars we service are 18 years old (not quite a 1956 Thunderbird,) but has just as many stories!

Address

2401 E. Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN
55406

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+16128665840

Website

https://www.theliftgarage.org/

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