Garage Mahals Are Driving Neighbors Nuts – WSJ

CHANHASSEN, Minn. With his three-car garage in this Minneapolis suburb already full, Bret Bailey had to keep his racing Porsche in a trailer outside through brutal Minnesota winters.

Then one March, as he prepared for a race, Bailey discovered the wheels of the trailer had frozen to the ground.

For two weeks, I m throwing salt out there, said the 64-year-old retired IT manager.

Now, Bailey is part of a man-cave-meets-Storage Wars revolution spreading across the country.

He keeps his two Porsches, Ferrari, custom Harley, dune buggy and racing trailer in a nearly 2,700-square-foot space outfitted like a sleek European car dealership. It sports a tequila bar, heated floors, bathroom with a shower, giant TV, leather sofa, stack of racing tires and a car lift. He s among 100 owners in a complex of garage condos called Chanhassen AutoPlex whose car shows attract thousands of people on summer weekends.

When a regular garage just isn t big enough to stash all their cars, boats, snowmobiles, RVs or even quilting gear and golf simulators, some people turn to luxury storage spaces where they can be close to their toys with all the comforts of home. 

Call them car barns, barndominiums, toy sheds, garage mahals or shouses (for shop houses), they are a big hit in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. 

via www.wsj.com

I wish I had one.