Image courtesy of Motorgrrl
In yet another example of unique Williamsburg institutions being displaced by the standard apartment building de jour, Motorgrrl has officially moved to Greenpoint. The motorcycle garage and storage facility, which has an interest in empowering female riders, began transitioning into its new digs at 42 Dobbins Street in December. Meanwhile, a permit was filed Monday with the Department of Buildings to demolish Motorgrrl’s former location.
After a decade in Williamsburg, Motorgrrl owner Valerie Figarella said she found out her landlord, Anthony Tristani, had other plans for her garage at 113 Metropolitan Avenue, between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue.
“When I approached them to do some construction in the building they denied me,” Figarella said. “They said, ‘We want to let you know that you’re not going to have your lease renewed.” Tristani also filed a permit on Monday for the demolition of a garage building at 117 Metropolitan Avenue. On Friday, February 27, demolition permits were filed (also by Tristani) for 84 and 92 North 3rd Street, lots that are adjacent to the Metropolitan Avenue properties but facing North 3rd Street.
This creates one giant chunk of land for what Figarella said would be rental apartments with a storefront. (Several messages left with employees at Tristani’s office were not returned.)
Figarella doesn’t have any hard feelings toward her former landlord, and said she’s “always had a great relationship” with the Tristani family. In fact, it seems the move has been a blessing. Motorgrrl had three remaining years on its lease, but she got out early once she found the new Greenpoint location. Tony Sanchez, a Motorgrrl employee for two and a half years, says the new 5,000 square foot garage is bigger and better suited to the company’s needs.
Motorgrrl’s old location (Photo courtesy of Motorgrrl)
“There’s better lighting, a sprinkler system already set up,” he said, adding that the garage was basically ready to go from the time they moved in because it formerly housed the electric motorcycle shop Carbon Negative. He said about 95 percent of Motorgrrl’s Williamsburg clients followed them to Greenpoint, and the facility now has the ability to store more than 100 motorcycles.
It’s quite an accomplishment for Figarella, who has had to work hard to establish herself in the male-driven motorcycle business. “I’ve had to slowly but surely prove my consistency and determination and my passion,” she said of owning her own garage. Sanchez said more and more people have become interested in riding motorcycles in Brooklyn, and that includes more women, who are taking a front seat in what was once considered the ultimate boy’s club. Figarella herself is a member of an all-girl riding club in Williamsburg.
The current location in Greenpoint (Photo courtesy of Motorgrrl)
Figarella is in the process of revamping Motorgrrl’s whole business model and image to cater more to the “moto-curious,” people who want to learn how to clean and repair their own motorcycles and need a space to do that as well as a place to store their bike. “We’ll be focusing on offering rides, trips and being a place where people can meet and network,” she said. “Park, wrench and ride, that’s our new model.” She said she plans throw a grand opening event sometime in the comings months.
