The Hackery

Lost data? Burnt power supply? Entire computer completely broken down? The Hackery is likely the spot for you. It’s a shop for customers looking to repair their computers or have data retrieved at a reasonable cost. It’s also a place for companies who rely on vintage computers to keep their machinery operational. “Those original companies that sold them the parts may have gone out of business 20 years ago,” owner Mark says. “When they come to us, we have exactly what they need.”

Before The Hackery existed, there was Free Geek Vancouver, a non-profit computer recycler that promoted open source software and community teaching. From that neighbourhood-centric approach, The Hackery was a natural step: A place where reuse means reduced repair costs. And the same desire for responsible recycling that inspired Free Geek underpins The Hackery's operations.

“The front of the store doesn’t look like much,” Mark admits. “It is, after all, a converted pie factory. But when you come inside you see that we’ve made the space something of a museum with a wall of computers dating back to the late ‘70s.”