Forget “add to cart.”
Before you replace that tired toaster, those ripped jeans, or that purse with the broken handle, try bringing them by the Westside Repair Cafe.
About 50 volunteers—including dozens of hands-on “fixers”—will roll into St. Monica Catholic Church on Saturday armed with glue guns, sewing kits, knife sharpeners, and more. Their goal: to keep once-beloved possessions safe from the landfill.
Got a dress that doesn’t fit? They may be able to hem it.
Dull kitchen knives? They’ve got sharpeners.
A torn shirt, wobbly chair, or busted bike? Toss it in the car—not the trash.
“We want to extend the life of items, teach repair skills, and encourage people not to toss things out,” says Quynh Nguyen, one of the volunteer event organizers.
The Westside Repair Cafe is part of a worldwide movement pushing back against throwaway culture—one loose button, broken lamp, and cranky small appliance at a time.
“Repair has been disappearing as both an art form and a mindset,” Nguyen tells The Sun.
But not in Santa Monica. This grassroots gathering has been around for more than 15 years, even though some longtime residents have never heard of it.
“We’re still reaching out to new people,” she says.
The cafe’s core repair lineup includes sewing, glue repairs, and a “tinker” station for small mechanical, electronic, computer, and wood-repair challenges.
Depending on the volunteer roster for each event, fixers may also be available to help with bicycles, jewelry, and other common household headaches.
The basic rule of thumb: If you can carry it through the door, bring it in.
“We have a few professionals, but most are just highly adept hobbyists and tinkerers who have been fixing things over decades and are very good at it,” Nguyen clarifies.
Of course, there are limits. Repair Cafe volunteers do not work on microwaves, and some jobs—like sewing machine overhauls—are too time-consuming to tackle.
There is also no guarantee every item can be saved.
Some electronics need replacement parts that are not available on-site. Still, volunteers can diagnose the problem, identify what is needed, and inform visitors where to find it.
Over the years, the Repair Cafe has grown into much more than a row of work tables.
While visitors wait, they can participate in crafts, games, gardening activities, and other neighbor-to-neighbor offerings.
This Saturday, St. Monica’s Green Team will host a potted plant swap.
“It’s almost become a wellness fair in addition to a repair cafe,” Nguyen says. “This event brings generations together to pass down skills and build that self-reliance mindset.”
The group is always looking for more volunteers, including non-repair helpers who can assist with check-in, ticketing, volunteer lunches, swaps, and social media.
So, before giving up on that ripped shirt, broken lamp, or scuffed shoe, give the fixers a shot.
Just leave the refrigerator at home.
Know Before You Go
What: Westside Repair Cafe
When: Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: St. Monica Catholic Church
Bring: Small, portable household items such as torn clothes, broken toys, dull knives, lamps, small appliances, books, bicycles, computers, and other repairable treasures.
Don’t bring: Microwaves, oversized appliances, and projects requiring lengthy overhauls.
Remember: Repairs are free but not guaranteed. Volunteers do not take items home, and they cannot haul away or recycle items they cannot fix.
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