Woodward Warehouse is Car Enthusiast’s Dream

Listening to his wife is paying off for a retired lawyer and classic car enthusiast from Troy.

“My wife was always telling me to buy a building to put all my cars in,” said Joe Polito, 62, manager and founding member of the Woodward Warehouse in Royal Oak. “I have cars all over the place – at my mom’s, sister’s, niece’s, my cottage. My wife told me ‘put them all in one place so you can enjoy them.’”

Now not only does Polito have a place to enjoy his 11 cars but he’s also created a car enthusiast’s clubhouse – complete with a climate controlled area for car and motorcycle storage, customer car detailing area, lifts and tools for light maintenance, reconditioning services and more. Members also enjoy six big flat screen TVs, a pool table, pinball machines, cigar lounge, conference room, kitchen, laundry room and an outdoor patio.

Taking his wife Blenda's advice, Polito started looking for a building about a year ago and he found a 13,500 square-foot multi-use facility at 4260 Edgeland sitting on an acre of land.

The building sat vacant for about four years and was in disrepair. Several feet of rubble surrounded the building, Polito said. “People were using it as a dump.”

But Polito had vision. He saw potential in the building and furthermore he saw an opportunity to turn it into something more than just a big garage for all his cars. He wanted to create an environment for car enthusiasts.

Polito, who grew up in Detroit, has been collecting cars since he was 16 years old. His father bought his first car, a 1963 Corvette, from his girlfriend’s father and he still has it. By the way, that girlfriend became his wife.

With a few ideas in his head about the type of atmosphere he wanted to create, Polito researched several facilities on the West and East Coast and created the Woodward Warehouse. There is nothing like it in Michigan, he said.

“We sell three types of membership,” Polito said. “We have a social membership where people have access to the clubhouse but don’t store any vehicles. We also have car/motorcycle storage and then we have a rate for people who want both.”

The memberships help cover the costs of operating the building, he said.

“I am not looking to make a profit. I just want the building to pay for itself,” he said. 

For the fall and winter, Polito is lining up events for club members that will include presentations, charity events and educational seminars.

“I also have friends in their 70s and 80s who cruised Woodward in the '50s and '60s,” he said. “I want to have them come in and share their stories.”

One last item Polito wants is a piano for the clubhouse lounge. 

“I play a little piano,” he said. “I just need to figure out where the piano will fit.”

Need to know

What: Woodward Warehouse

Where: 4260 Edgeland, just minutes from Woodward Avenue

Services: Car/motorcycle storage, use of detail/repair area, parts storage, office space rental, hand wash and wax, carpet shampoo, interior detail, engine compartment wash and more. Member rates are available.

Phone: 248-549-7686

Website: woodwardwarehouse.com