Meet Mandy & Chris Koeninger | restoration enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mandy & Chris Koeninger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mandy & Chris, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We are a husband and wife team that restore classic Ford Bronco’s and motorcycles. We have a Youtube channel, website, and host car shows, to provide informational videos on how to restore your vehicles and clinics regarding installation and use of products. We wanted to help others in their journey to bring life back to all those classic vehicles that the world has forgotten about.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The basis of Alpine garage can be traced back to a single winter evening in 2016. An add had been placed for a ’74 Bronco, complete and running (albeit barely). When we arrived at the scene, it was clear that the vehicle was the perfect starting project for a Colorado couple interested in restorations. Getting the vehicle home, however, would prove to be the first true adventure. A handful of miles in, the sky dark and blurred with quickening snowfall, the Bronco broke down. With no other options, we piled back into the truck we came in and tracked down the closest Walmart, conveniently in the middle of nowhere. One car battery heavier, we trecked back to the Bronco, hooked it up, and managed to make our way home in one piece. It was quite the origin story for our beloved channel, and nowhere near the only challenge we have faced. The technical issues involved with starting this process are mildly frustrating at best and discouraging at worst. Hours will be spent researching and compiling solutions only for them to malfunction. However, with each problem we fixed came the most satisfying sense of purpose. Simply watching the pieces come together becomes a reward in of itself. This is where the Youtube channel came in. We wanted to create an outlet to show our journey and growth, and provide our own outlooks on ways to problem solve. In this manner, we were also able to receive invaluable tips from fans and supporters on our projects. Our story, however, would be incomplete if we did not recognize the balance of work, family, and project. All those who have dipped a toe in restoration understand that it is a time consuming endeavor. When you’re balancing a work-life as well as a family-life on top of this, one simply begins to run out of time. With a little maneuvering, the pieces began to fit together comfortably, and with time they actually began to blend. Our restoration time is no longer just us, but rather a whole family endeavor. Our daughters enjoy helping us out to where it’s become more of a bonding experience than we ever could have imagined. I think my favorite evening this year was when we hosted a “drive in movie” in the garage, where we all bundled up with warm blankets and snacks in the vehicles to watch a film.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When the holidays roll around, there is simply one place that sets the tone for good cheer. The Georgetown Christmas market fills the streets with the scent of cinnamon and sound of lively chatter on the first weekend of December. With stalls selling fresh bread, candied nuts, and handmade ornaments, it truly felt like walking through a Charles Dickens novel. The serendipitous snowfall and carolers ambling about were the icing on the cake. We were able to take our youngest to see Santa in the local bookshop and wander the rows of shelves decked with green and red boughs. Once the cold began to settle in and we were ready for some warm food and conversation, we made our way to the Alpine pizzeria. Surrounded by the bright, vivid signs and decor, we ate our way through the best pizza in Colorado (pepperoni, mushroom, and garlic, of course.) If that isn’t enough of a draw, along the ceiling runs a moving model train that snakes its way in lazy loops past patrons. Each time we visit, a new local singer serenades from the side, completing the perfect small town aesthetic. Without a doubt, visiting Georgetown during the holidays has been our favorite Colorado experience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We at Alpine Garage feel that a shout-out is due to our loyal subscribers. After all, everything our small business has grown to be started with the development of our YouTube channel. With time, we found that our efforts were no longer focused on growing the channel, but rather immersing ourselves in this wonderfully complex community. YouTube became a platform in which we were able to swap tidbits, anecdotes, and techniques with other restoration enthusiasts. To this day, the support and camaraderie of our subscribers fuels our dedication to our work.

Website: thealpinegarage.com

Instagram: @thealpinegarage

Facebook: The Alpine Garage

Youtube: Alpine Garage