b"SHOP PROFILE:BUSLAB Berkeley, CASSF stocks more air-cooled parts than ever and we areWhen not overlowing with vans and buses, space is made for the adding new parts to our program every day.We contin- irst Shop Garden that weve seenue to see substantial growth in this segment, despite the currenteconomicturmoilfacingourindustry,so,we wantedtogetanupdatetowhatsgoingoninthe air-cooled world. And what better place to start than An aerial view of Buslabs back lot and street parking. UsuallyBerkeleys renowned BUSLAB, an iconic space with one home to around 40 vintage vans and buses ofthecountryslargestassemblageofvintageBuses, Vanagons and Westies. Buslabs story begins when German-born Marco Greywe andAmericanStevePerzanbecamefriendsandBuslab is well recognized co-workersandrealizedtheysharedaloveofclassicin its marketplace, Volkswagens. Marco had been dissecting and reassem- sporting a variety of fun bling Beetles and Buses for years in his parents' garage,t-shirts and swagattic,andyard,whenhedecidedtoheadtoAmerica seeking more space and less rusty vehicles. Meanwhile, Steve was getting his degree in hospitality managementmay explain why all whenhediscoveredthatdrivingaroundthecountrythe hair on Steves following bands in his VW Bus was way more fun thanhead has since studying. He also discovered that his bus needed a lot offallen through his work and, being broke, he had to learn to ix it himself!skull and With the winning combination of Marco's VW expertiseattached itself to andabilitytoixjustaboutanything,andSteveshis chin, muses businessexperience,thepairscrapedup$1,700andMarco, Also, after six renteda1000sfobscurestoragespaceinRichmond,months of customers dropping California.Marcoswife,Shae,cameupwiththeoff their vans in the middle of Volkswagen Buses were available in no less than 29 differentsoon-to-be-famed moniker Buslab.nowhere and then having to igure out how to get shades of green between 1952 to 1981.This was one of the mosthome, we realized we needed a better location.popular hues Sage Green With tight space, no lift, and their start-up money spent,Steve and Marco jumped at the chance to relocate when the partners desperately needed customers fast if theyashopspaceopeneduponBlakeSt.indowntown were going to be able toBerkeley,adream-come-trueenvironmentifyou make next months rent.service VW buses and vans!Not surprisingly, Buslab Marcotriedouthissoon outgrew that space too.When we got the oppor-marketing skills placing us,tunity to expand to our current location at Adeline and anadintheYellow takethebus.) Stanford in 2011, we were super stoked, Marco contin-PagesLuckilyues, the new location has room for 6 lifts, a huge yard, customers(Withryoull an ofice, and a separate customer bathroom (believe esponded us, people are grateful). Steve was also excited that the andmanagedtoindlocation is next to the Adeline farmers market, where theirwaytothesmallhe could put his hospitality management skills to work shop.Steve and Marcopromoting the business. wereablekeepthe lights on and pay rent byWith the new larger space and Buslab growing, Marco The Land Hopper, a modiied Syncro the Buslab teamworking on one bus at atook notice of the American appetite for more and more uses to enjoy those most rugged adventures.The Hoppertime. VW buses and vans and saw an opportunity. Soon he has become a popular entity with the off road event crowd, withwas making yearly expeditions back to Germany and the team providing rides and taxi-service for participants.Buslab was on its way, and very soon would outgrow itselsewhere in Europe to buy rare buses and vans, as well humblebeginnings.Thesoundoftheaircompressoras original parts and have them shipped back to the echoing off the corrugated steel walls and the fact westates (he agrees that he might have a hoarding prob-were workingnext door to an un-ventilated paint shoplem as his collection is bursting at the seams)."