General Woodshop & The Factory GR: Alberto Garza on Building Community and Business Branding

In this episode of Theo’s Coffee Break podcast we sit down with Alberto Garza, an established business owner, community builder, and co-owner of both General Woodshop and The Factory in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Alberto shares the story behind co-owning General Woodshop and The Factory, reflecting on his journey from banking outreach to building, the resilience it took to relocate and establish a new brand, and his vision for creating spaces that are rooted in retaining talent, collaboration, and inclusivity.

Together, we explore the mess, the grace, and the in between of creating something successful from the ground up, the daily practices that helped keep Alberto grounded, and what it means to nurture community through intentional space-making.

So whether you’re an entrepreneur, a business owner, a leader, or a listener who simply loves supporting local businesses, this conversation will leave you inspired to build with heart, and to create spaces where everyone feels like they do truly belong.

- General Woodshop: generalwoodshop.com

- The Factory GR: workthefactory.com

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