The Garage Studio

If you drive along Scenic Highway 98 in Point Clear, you’ll notice a charming little gray studio and shop called The Garage Studio. Amanda Bacon, owner and lover of all things artsy, turned this seemingly forgotten old gas station and garage into a wonderland of collectibles, paintings, and everything creative in between.  

By Caroline Edmondson

Opened eight years ago, The Garage Studio has become the place for locals and visitors alike to find the perfect piece of art to add to their homes. Owner Amanda Bacon recalls her store being a bit of a “happy accident” – one she is grateful to have made. “I didn’t really set out to open a shop,” she says. “I was looking for a place to use as a studio and had been dreaming of finding a place to create away from my home. When I found the old gas station, it was too large for just me, so I asked a couple of friends to join me, and what was meant to be a studio evolved into an art gallery. Eventually, those friends went on to other opportunities and I began to add more and more retail merchandise, and the shop was born!”

Art (and being creative in general) has always been a large part of Amanda’s life, she says, adding that she’s always had “happy hands.” “I am at my happiest when creating, whether it is teaching myself to paint or decorating my house or playing with clay,” she says. “I love experimenting with new mediums and coming up with new projects.” Most of the art Amanda carries in her shop comes from local artists, with most of the paintings done by her two resident artists: Bill Harrison and Jean Marie McDonnell. “Their working studio sits right next to the shop and they can be found in there painting away almost every day,” Amanda says. She even puts her artists’ skills to the test with the store’s sign, which undergoes a creative revamp every Christmas. “The holiday decorations are always an evolution,” she says. “I usually come up with the general theme and then everyone starts brainstorming possibilities, and Bill Harrison takes our ideas and works his magic! We have great fun with them.” Amanda says she gets a kick out of seeing people stop to take pictures of their displays. “This year’s display is a boat filled with presents being pulled by alligators, with the Grinch himself at the helm,” she shares.

Besides the amazing pieces of handmade artwork, Amanda carries a wide collection of clothing, home décor, small presents, and more, perfect for anyone on your Christmas list this year. Each item is hand-selected by Amanda while “treasure hunting” for the store. “I love to find unusual and one-of-a-kind pieces,” she says. “I work very hard to have merchandise that no one else in town sells. Discovering new pieces – whether clothing or décor – is what keeps the shop fresh.” Some of her favorite shop items include wooden Mobile Bay maps and Mobile Bay fleece blankets, Leigh Ann Hurst’s cross necklaces, and shotgun shell holiday wreaths.

As much as Amanda loves her shop, she loves her customers even more, saying getting to know the new families moving into the area who are drawn here by the coastal ease of living is one of the best parts of her job. “I love when our customers come in with pictures of their homes featuring items purchased at The Garage Studio,” she says. “It is quite a rewarding feeling knowing something from the shop added a little something special to their homes.” With Amanda’s exceptional customer service, friendly demeanor, and love for her community and customers, it’s easy to see how she has gathered a large following of loyal fans who often stop in her store to browse multiple times a week. 

Of course, Amanda says the success of her studio and store would never have been possible without her employees who she says keep her grounded. “They always go the extra mile,” she says. “I am grateful for each of them. They are no longer employees, but family and best friends.” Add in husband Robbie, son Stillwell (16), and their two dogs, and Amanda’s got all the support she could ever need. “My husband has patiently put up with my long hours, and my son is the joy of my life. I call him my ‘catcherman,’ as he spends all of his spare time fishing,” she says. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I love our life on the Bay. I love that our son can hop in his boat and go fishing whenever his heart desires. And, there is nothing quite as restorative as our stunning Bay sunsets at the end of a long day.” 

Eclectic, energetic, happy, and ever-changing, this little studio is the epitome of Southern, coastal life. For now, Amanda loves her time spent out searching for the next great find and creating at The Garage Studio, hoping to bring a smile to every visitor’s face.

The Garage Studio | 17070 Scenic Hwy. 98 Fairhope, AL |251.928.3474