‘You feel like you’re being social — and responsible’: Meet the people who are turning garages into mini-bars - MarketWatch
The Lermans of New Jersey are among a number of Americans who have turned their garage into a bar. For safety purposes, they have hand sanitizer near the vodka and don't invite many guests at once. Matt Rarity of Seattle transformed his greenhouse into a speakeasy, furnished with a flat-screen TV, card table and dart board. Garage bars existed before COVID-19, but they are becoming more popular due to concerns about the safety of visiting real bars. The Lermans spent around $5,000 on their garage makeover, which includes a hot tub, and it isn't clear it will boost their home resale value. For them, it is an investment in happiness.
Key Takeaways:
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many homeowners are creating garage bars to stay social while practicing social distancing.
- Homeowners who have created and furnished a home bar say that it only costs a couple thousand dollars and is worth much more than that.
- Apart from garage bars, backyard pools sales have been on the rise as Americans are preparing to wait out the summer at home.
“Many Americans are enhancing their homes to get a break from the monotony of a summer with fewer options for fun”