Upper Arlington Repair Cafe
Join UAPL and Sustainable UA for Upper Arlington’s first Repair Cafe. Repair Cafes are free meeting places where visitors bring their broken items from home (small appliances, electronics, toys, clothes, etc.). We throw away vast amounts of stuff. A Repair Cafe can help residents keep their possessions out of landfills, reduce the amount of hazardous materials that make their way back into the environment, and reduce emissions that go into manufacturing and shipping a brand-new thing. Join us Saturday, January 17, 2026 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the UAPL Tremont location.
Our volunteer specialists will work with you to determine if your item is repairable. If it is, the volunteer and you can work together to fix it! Please bring in no more than 2 repairable or potentially repairable items. If you know or suspect the item needs a specific replacement part such as a new cord, switch, a patch, a button, etc., please bring it with you. If the item cannot be repaired at the cafe, the volunteer specialist will help guide you to the information you need to either finish the repair at home or provide additional resources and recommendations for repair. In some instances, if the item is not able to be repaired we can share recycling options. We will also have electronic waste recycling bins provided by Columbus Micro Systems and City of Upper Arlington.
Generously sponsored by SWACO and sweet treats at the cafe will be provided by The Goodie Shop.
For more information on types of repairs and volunteer specialists please check back for event updates, this will be updated as we finalize participating specialists!
Special thanks to SWACO for their generous sponsorship of Upper Arlington’s first Repair Cafe.
Volunteer Specialists:
Seamstress/Menders: Emily Shaw, Leeza Lisska, Jackie Farbeann
Visible Mending and Darning: Cora Helton, Sarah Hazzard
Electrical/Small Appliance: Harrison Gaines, Jacob Lawson, Christa McKelvey, Tim Tucker, Karen Tucker, Rich Rosen
Electrical/ Computer and Phone: Tim Burd, Aaron B., Giuseppe Cespedes
Generalists: Jerry Holloway, Craig Murdick, Jill Lewis, Alexander Blankemeyer
Woodworking: Lauren Keeler
Jewelry: Eve Henson, Hanan Smajlovic, Sheree Green
Volunteers Needed
Do you have a skillset you’d like to offer to help repair items at our first Upper Arlington Repair Cafe? Fill out this form to share how you’d like to help.
Repair Cafe FAQs
- Why a Repair Cafe? Repair Cafes help residents keep items out of the landfill and reduce the amount of hazardous materials that make their way back into the environment. Repairing rather than buying new also reduces emissions that go into manufacturing and shipping a new item.
- What should I bring? Bring one item that you think can be repaired, and our volunteer specialists will work with you to determine if they can help you repair your item together. If you know your item needs a special replacement part, please bring it with you.
- What if my item can’t be repaired? Our volunteer specialist will guide you to information to help you finish the repair or provide additional resources and recommendations.
- What types of items can be brought in? We’ll be updating the event with more information as we finalize participating repair specialists, so keep checking in as we update with more information.
- How much does it cost? Repair Cafes are free opportunities for connecting with neighbors and working together to make our communities more climate-friendly.
Can’t make this repair cafe? Check out these other repair cafe events in Central Ohio: https://www.facebook.