Apple
Apple is currently the most valuable technology company in the world, and it all started in the garage of Steve Jobs’ parents. In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, 21 and 26 respectively, took over the garage and handbuilt 50 computers in 30 days for a local retailer, selling them at $500 a piece. From then on, there was no stopping them. Address: 2066 Crist Dr, Los Altos, California
The Beatles
Before forming The Beatles, John Lennon was a member of a group called The Quarrymen, alongside several school friends. When the parents of one band member couldn’t take the noise anymore, the future superstar and his bandmates were forced to practice in a back garden air-raid shelter.
Amazon
In 1994, when Jeff Bezos founded Amazon as an online bookstore, it was run completely out of his garage. In July, 1995, he sold his first book and packed it in the same garage. Amazon is now the world’s largest online retailer. Address: 10704 NE 28th, Bellevue, Washington
Harley Davidson
In 1901, William S. Harley planned to create an engine to power his bicycle. Over a few years, Harley and his friend Arthur Davidson, built the engine-powered bike out of a wooden shack, founding Harley-Davidson in 1903. Address: Somewhere in northern Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Microsoft
In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the future behemoth Microsoft inside a garage. It was here that they licensed their first operating system to IBM for $80,000. Later, they went on to develop Windows, which dominates the computer market.
Yankee Candle
Michael Kittredge started making candles for his parents from melted crayons in 1969. When neighbours expressed interest in buying the candles, he occupied his parents’ garage and started producing them in mass. In 2013, Yankee Candles was purchased for $1.75 billion.
The Ramones
When the Ramones formed in 1974, John Cummings and Thomas Erdelyi had both already been in high-school bands that practiced in garages. By the group’s final year, they had shaped the entire punk rock movement.
Mattel
In 1945, the newly married Ruth and Elliot Handler decided to start a business out of their garage. Initially, they sold picture frames, making dollhouse furniture from leftover scraps. The post-war baby boom made their first toy, a mini ukulele, a huge success. Now, Mattel is an iconic brand to all children - thanks mostly to Barbie.
Weezer
In their early years, Weezer, an alt rock group, played in a garage which the band rented in Amherst, Los Angeles. The same garage is featured in their music video for their 1995 hit ‘Say It Ain’t So.’ Since then, the band has sold over 17 million albums worldwide.
Disney
In 1923, Walt and Roy Disney moved in with their uncle, Robert Disney. In his one-car garage, the brothers set up “The First Disney Studio”and started filming the Alice Comedies, part of the original Alice’s Wonderland. Today, Disney is the highest-grossing media company in the world. Address: 4651 Kingswell Ave, Los Angeles, California
Google
As Stanford students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin started working on Google during the summer of 1998. They borrowed Susan Wojcicki’s garage and started creating what would be the most trafficked site in the history of the Internet. Soon, the project started interfering with school work and the duo attempted to sell Google to Excite for $1 million. Excite rejected the offer, and they probably kick themselves to this day. Address: 232 Santa Margarita Ave, Menlo Park, California
Hewlett-Packard
In 1939, HP, one of the largest companies in the world, started in a garage with an investment of $538. It was in this garage that Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard made audio oscillators, which they would later sell to Walt Disney. Address: 367 Addison Ave, Palo Alto, California
Lotus Cars
In 1984, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman started building the first Lotus race cars in his parents’ garage. Today, Lotus is one the leading British manufacturers of sports and racing cars.
Nike
Nike, or Blue Ribbon Sport as it was known from 1964 to 1978, didn’t even have the luxury of a garage. When Philip Knight and Bill Bowerman started selling training shoes, it was done entirely from their car trunk.
Patagonia Clothing
In 1953, at age 14, Yvon Chouinard became a climber. By age 18, he had bought a forge and anvil, which he operated out of his parents’ garage and back garden. Yvon started to make and sell pitons for $1.50 each. By 2012, Patagonia had netted $500 million, becoming one of the biggest names in outdoor apparel.
