Any tips on finding some some shop space? (Greater Los Angeles area)

Check in with the car hobbyist forums for the area. Racers are always looking for the same type of space, and/or people to share larger spaces with.

- - Rex Burkheimer WM Automotive Fort Worth TX

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

Nice idea. I did a quick search for forums, and come up mostly with R/C car forums and Nascar stuff. Any idea on a search term that will point me to the right type of forums (or a starting point?) Or the ones your area so I have a idea of what your talking about?

Thanks a lot!

I recently bought and picked-up a Rong Fu mill-drill from a small business in Ontario; their shop exactly matched your description (although I have no idea what their rent was). So you might want to look in the area immediately south-south-west of the Ontario Airport.

The address of the industrial building where the shop was located, is: 1721 S. Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91761 (to respect the privacy of the seller, I'll not disclose their suite number). There seemed to be a lot of similar facilities in the neighborhood. Actually, I found this area to be rather interesting: the industrial area was interspersed with small (lot-sized) strawberry fields!

I don't know how close this area is to you. I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area myself.

- Michael

I had the same problem with brokers being abrupt when they realized I was looking for 1000 sf. All I can say is don't give up. I was very discouraged after about a dozen calls, but the last one yielded a gem.

Pick an area..and Ill find you shop space. Got a place in Van Nuys I think..though that might be too far.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the s*it out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

Thats about 2 miles from me as I type this. Lots of small shops over on that side of the airport.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the s*it out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

Hey Gunner,

I'm centered in the South Bay (Gardena/San Pedro etc) area, which is unfortunate due the the price for sqft. Anyplace I 'pick' will be a trade off in commuting and price (assuming acceptable units can be found).

Van Nuys is actually closer (30 mins) than the area I am currently considering, the Ontario/Montclair area (50 mins) which is around .60 a sqft give or take. I've seen ads out there for .50 and under, but I have not checked them out yet. How much is land out there in Van Nuys? What kind of units are available?

Right now anyplace that is secure, has a roll-up garage (or simular), good electricity hookups and is inexpensive is a viable alternative. Flexible lease/rent is a plus, but I might be pushing my luck since 1 yr min is almost a given it seems.

Can't wait to hear from you. (johnnon at gmail.com)

Ill do some checking over the next week. Would you mind sharing with another individual? Split the rent and utilities? This is quite common.

Call Russ at Dahl Screw Products

He may have some ideas about that area. He may even have some space

Tell him Gunner, the OmniTurn guy referred you.

Thats pretty close to you isnt it?

Gunner

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the s*it out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

Hey Gunner,

Thanks in advance for checking. I want to spend the least as possible (not really a profit making operation in the near future), the commute might suck, but I have to afford the space on spare income. Hopefully under $500 - $700/mo for a low rent area (any space from 400 sqft on up, so far I don't have much stuff, although that might change). So unless I get lucky and get some surplus space or a really niche spot, seems Long Beach might be too rich for my blood (although it would be great, and I'll try to get a hold of him).

P.S I'm looking for my own space, don't really want to share. Biggest requirement I guess is a secured work area (don't want to worry about theft etc), and a roll up door for shop machines and deliveries.

Thanks Gunner, hope to hear from you next week.

-John (johnnon at gmail.com)

A client is calling a buddy of his in San Pedro to see if he has any shop space left in his industrial strip mall. Ill know something next week.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the s*it out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

Btw..there is 1000 sq feet avail in Santa Ana, but its .80 a foot Nice place, but probably too far.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire. Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us) off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the s*it out of you for torturing the cat." Gunner

I live out in that area (Ontario/Montclair) and had been looking for a space similar to what you're describing, and while Ontario seems to have the best selection for those things I did find a nice block of units that were, as I recall, just under 1000 square feet in size for around

There are a lot of little shop spaces like you want not too far from you- but I think your price points are kinda unrealistic. When I first moved to LA, way back in 1984, shop space like you want was going for between .50 and a buck a square foot. 20 years later, I gotta think rents have gone up, considering how much real estate has gone up.

I found several shops over the years in LA, and though I would look in the Times and the Recycler every week, the best method I found was to drive the grid of neighborhoods I was interested in. I would be out every weekend, driving Paramount, the edges of Compton, Inglewood, Gardena, Hawthorne, Torrance, Bellflower, Norwalk, Southgate, Bell, Vernon, Commerce- All up around the LA river is good territory. Drive the alleys, and the dead end streets up against the river, under the freeways. The little shops are owned by guys who are not gonna pay brokers, or high priced ads in the Times. So they will put for rent signs up.

I was in Inglewood for 10 years, and with common sense, I never had my shop broken into. Decent locks, bars on the windows, I paid for an alarm system every month. Dont leave doors open, just basic stuff like that. Make friends with your neighbors, and do them favors, and they look out for you. A locking tool chest, a locking cabinet for small power tools. Nobody is gonna steal major machines- its mostly cash, liquor, guns and easily pawnable stuff like drills and boomboxes that get stolen.

One thing you might consider is putting your own ad in the recycler- hey, its free, what have you got to lose? Industrial space wanted, list your prefered areas, and price range.

Nice to hear that security even in around these parts is not so bad. And yeah, I realized that real estate in the South Bay area is crazy high (IMHO). I will probably have to find space in the outlaying areas (Ontario etc) unless I get lucky and find a dinky little shop area around here. Those tips for finding a space are pretty what I have tried doing so far (guess I just have to spend at little more time/gas next weekend). Only wish there was some map of business park/industrial areas, as opposed to just guessing and doing freeway view sweeps of areas.

If you can copy down the number next time your by there that would be great...

-John (johnnon at gmail.com)

Thanks gunner, let me know

This should be them:

Martin Company 800-300-2551

The units in question are on west 9th street in Upland, on the north side of the street, with a gigantic sign that says something like "industrial workshops" on it. Nearest cross streets are Benson (to the west) and Mountain (to the east). In looking through it this weekend it looked like there were still quite a few empty slots, and they definitely look like sub-1000 square foot units.

Thats a good neighborhood also. A couple blocks away is Cutting Edge, a metal saw cutting and waterjet cutting outfit that is good to deal with and always has good drops.

Its also about 3 miles from where I keep my RV, so if you get a place, drop me an email and Ill give you a hand setting up your shop.

Gunner

"Considering the events of recent years, the world has a long way to go to regain its credibility and reputation with the US." unknown