Our Story
As you may have guessed from our name Garage1880 started in an actual garage. But before we were even in a garage, our founder Allie Knobbe was working at training studios, commercial gyms, and building up her own clientele through social media. As Allie worked at different studios and gyms she saw the same pattern over and over again: Trainers were not able to make enough money when they got started to pay for basic needs, so they picked up side jobs. This led to trainers having little energy to focus on their personal training clients and eventually quitting personal training for something that could pay the bills. When trainers left many of their clients would leave the gym creating a lose/lose. The gyms lost passionate trainers and usually a book of clients and the trainers had to leave a job they loved for a job that covered their cost of living.
Eventually Allie too got sick of working at commercial gyms that treated trainers poorly and converted her garage into a temporary training space. After about a year of her garage gym going better than she anticipated she began to look for a space to rent.
Allie opened Garage1880 with the vision of being able to provide the highest quality training by attracting the highest quality trainers.
The best way to do that? Pay a fair and livable wage day one. Provide high quality continuing education, create a team environment with monthly seminars and create the standard of listening to clients and addressing needs on a personalized, case-by-case, basis.
We take care of our trainers so they can take care of you!
Allie Knobbe
Owner & Trainer
Allie's training career has been focused on helping women achieve confidence through strength training. Allie first became interested in training when she did her original training certification hoping to learn how to navigate all of the wellness misinformation presented online. With some trial and error Allie realized, when she shifted her focus away from quick fixes and weight, to what she could sustainably do and what made her body feel good she not only felt better but also started to see the physical results she had been chasing. Allie now aims to help other women see past the fitness industry's "BS" and move their focus from how they look to how they feel. She believes the best way to help clients have a positive training experience is to help facilitate a positive relationship with food and exercise.
Allie specializes in women's strength, pre and post-natal and mobility training.
Certs: NASM, PN L1, AFPA, AED, CPR
Katharine Moustakes
Lead Trainer
As a veteran trainer Katharine has experience working with a wide spectrum of clients.
Katharine strengths lie her in programming, attention to details and her ability to connect with and understand her clients' needs. While Katharine is well-versed in working with many different kinds of clients her bread and butter is working with runners and hikers. She sees an opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to enhance their skills both on and off the trail by adding consistent strength training. Her knowledge and skill when it comes to programming and helping clients meet their goals is unparalleled.
Certs: NASM, PNL1, UESCA CRC, AED, CPR
