The Big Box Buildings That Have Been Repurposed As Premium Car Clubs
Many former retail properties have been transformed into classic vehicle showrooms, auto storage facilities and "members only" car clubs
An unlikely adaptive reuse of Big Box real estate?
As “members only” car clubs, showrooms and storage facilities for classic vehicles.
There are hundreds of car clubs and classic vehicle showrooms in the U.S.
Many principally sell, service and store classic and exotic vehicles.
Some car clubs also stage events and have comfortable lounge areas for members and to meet and relax.
Still others offer unique experiences — such as rentals of exotic and high performance vehicles and even racetrack driving opportunities.
Many of these car clubs have been created via adaptive reuse — including of industrial properties, warehouses and Big Box buildings that were once home to retailers such as Lowes, Sam’s Club and Babies R Us.
Hagerty Garage + Social - Delray Beach, FL
The ~60,000 square foot building on 777 S Congress in Delray Beach, Florida was originally built as a warehouse for Kraft Foods.
It was later leased to ABC Carpet & Home from the mid-1990s until 2018.
But in 2022 Hagerty repurposed the building as a Garage + Social car club.
The Garage + Social club offers climate controlled space for up to 450 classic and collector cars and offers maintenance, detailing and concierge services.
The building also has a clubhouse and lounge for club members to gather, relax and attend on-site events.
The Delray Beach property is 1 of 9 similarly sized Garage + Social locations operated by Hagerty, a specialty vehicle insurer and automobile lifestyle company, in major MSAs throughout the country.
Classic Car Motoring - Irondale, AL
Classic Car Motoring now operates a collision repair, car storage and club in a 140,000 square foot former Sam's Club located in Irondale, Alabama.
The facility features a 19,000 square foot area dedicated to collision repair and accessory installation on commercial size vehicles such as the Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram ProMaster — and it is the only Alabama repair center authorized by Mercedes-Benz and Tesla.
Classic Car Motoring also has a 12,000 square foot "Vault" where over 100 vehicles can be stored for car owners that do not have room at home.
There are even five acres of outside space and a 17,000 square foot indoor “club” area — complete with on-site catering kitchen — that can be rented for events such as car shows, cruises, meetings or parties.
Unique Classic Cars - Mankato, MN
The former Lowe's in Mankato, Minnesota is now home to Unique Classic Cars, an auto dealership that buys, sells, trades and consigns classic cars and specialty vehicles.
Unique stocks 150+ classic vehicles and muscle cars in a museum-like showroom in the 140,000 square foot former Lowe’s Big Box building.
It also has a service department that can complete everything from basic oil changes to the full restoration of classic vehicles.
While Unique Classic Cars does not offer a members-only club, it frequently stages events at its facilities and is open to the general public.
Gateway Classic Cars - Tulsa, OK
Gateway Classic Cars bills itself as the largest classic and exotic car dealership in the world.
Gateway has ~4,000 classic vehicles for sale at its 20 showrooms located across the country.
One of these showrooms is a former Babies R Us store in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Gateway does not offer a members-only club but it does stage a “Caffeine & Chrome” monthly car show at each of its 20 locations across the country.
Caffeine & Chrome is open to the public and does not require an admission fee — classic car owners simply drive up in their favorite vehicles to meet and greet attendees.
But even though Gateway does not have a members-only club, it does have a larger venue that can be rented to host events.
The Gateway Classic Cars Expo Center in O’Fallon, Illinois (Metro St. Louis) is an ~80,000 square foot facility stocked with classic and exotic vehicles.
Its ~10,000 square foot “Lincoln Area” offers a view of the expansive vehicle showroom and seats up to 200 guests.
The Lincoln Area is frequently used for weddings, awards ceremonies, receptions and business parties.
Gateway also offers more intimate “Cadillac Lounge” and “Conference Room” areas at its Expo Center that provide table and couch seating for up to 80 people.
And like many other car clubs and classic vehicle showrooms, Gateway’s O’Fallon Expo Center also happens to be the product of adaptive reuse:
It was formerly an American Furniture, Electronics and Appliance store.
