Good Judy Garage Promotes Safety, Openness, and Inclusion

Very few people feel excitement surrounding the prospect of car maintenance. For many LGBTQ people especially, visiting a mechanic also comes with a certain anxiety, as the auto industry is a traditionally cisheteronormative, masculine industry, and the same often holds true for queer folks working in the industry. 

CC (she/they) and Faith Haug (she/her) recognize these truths, which eventually led them to consider a new idea: a queer-owned-and-operated automotive service and repair shop where all are welcome.

Thus, Good Judy Garage was born, the name referring to icon Judy Garland, a well-known supporter of the LGBTQ community in her time, and referencing that the shop is a safe and trustful space.

“It was over the summer, and I don’t even remember exactly how the conversation came up,” Faith says. “It was something like, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if there was a shop that people of all orientations or presentations can feel comfortable at? There isn’t anything like that.’ It was kind of born in the garage of our home over the summer, and we just decided, that’s the trajectory where we’re going to take it.”

The duo are also married, with Faith taking control of the business element as the director of development, while Owner and Primary Operator CC handles the more hands-on work. Faith has more than 10 years of experience in funeral service and just finished her Master of Business Administration degree.

CC has an extensive background working on cars since she was 12 years old, and they eventually moved to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering after high school. She is also genderqueer and trans, which wasn’t always a great fit within the industry they worked.

“I always was in a position where there were a lot of people around that weren’t OK with those kinds of things,” CC says. “So, I felt like I would have to give up my love for cars, and automobilia, and that type of stuff, in order to transition. The conflict internally of those two things is kind of what led us to this idea and pursue Good Judy.”

The shop is located in Englewood, and the pair expressed that finding a location was a struggle, “especially in Denver, as expensive as it is, so that was a frustration for us, finding the right place,” Faith says. They leased the space in October, and it was a hustle until their opening in mid-December, ensuring they had the proper equipment and planning in place to start up shop.

Prior to opening, they launched Good Judy’s Instagram page, and immediately the community responded, even though they hadn’t even opened their doors.

“It was interesting how many people reached out to us and said that they were hesitant to get their stuff worked on because they didn’t want to deal with traditional auto shops, just how excited they were to have that option,” Faith says. “It’s something that you’re already having to do that you don’t want to, let alone worrying how you’re going to be treated, or how you have to perform differently than you really are.”

CC attests to this and adds it holds true inside the industry as well. They have witnessed colleagues in the industry that have had to hide parts of themselves as well to fit in with the “bro-club attitude” which is often abundant in auto repair shops. She said that, after they announced Good Judy, many of those peers reached out with support and positivity, even opening up about things they had kept buried for years.

“We’re trying to make a positive difference in that kind of way,” CC says. “It’s something we talked about, doing it as, like, ‘If we’re going to open this business, we really have to commit to this and do it right because anything less than that is basically unethical.’”

Part of that conversation is also ensuring that there is an openness with customers when sharing information, who might want to get a closer look under the hood, so to speak. 

CC references that folks in the industry sometimes talk down to people who don’t have the same knowledge or context to understand the technical aspects of the job. When any person might be curious to learn more about the work CC does, she asserts there is an opportunity to expand and teach.

And while the couple strive to ensure Good Judy is a comfortable place, steering clear of those more harmful attitudes, CC says, “On the other side of that, the work we do is as good as any work that you’re going to get at any shop anywhere, without having to put up with all that.”

The couple hope to expand into the unit next door, which will open up an additional three bays for Good Judy. While they are focusing on mechanical work, CC and Faith said in the future, they would like to look into a partner shop that focuses more on paint and bodywork.

Good Judy will also have a waiting area, where they plan to highlight local artists and begin expanding out into the greater Denver community. The pair are already networking with other businesses in Denver who are involved in charity work and looking at options to partner with upcoming events moving forward.

“Eventually, the goal is, as we expand, obviously, to be an employer for people that is respectful, makes them feel comfortable being themselves, however they identify, and to just tie all that together,” CC says. 

Until then, both CC and Faith excitedly press on in their new endeavor, which started as a simple idea and has grown into something exceeding both of their expectations. 

“I’m looking forward to having fun with it,” CC adds. “That was one of the whole points of doing it, to have a place where we could enjoy being ourselves, and other people can do the same.”

Good Judy Garage is open for business at 1865 W. Union, Unit M in Englewood. Find them on Instagram @goodjudygarage and at goodjudygarage.com.