Charleston's first Repair Cafe fixes more than 60 items for free

Repair Cafe Charleston held its first event Saturday with the Charleston County Public Library and fixed more than 60 items at no charge. People brought lamps, fans, clocks, small appliances, clothing, bicycles, toys, and furniture. One fan that had started to sound like a blender was quiet again in about 10 minutes. Founder Bill Laughlin, a retired architect, said a weed trimmer left worth what it had been before it broke, and a Roomba bought at a yard sale for $20 left working and valued at about $900.

The point is to keep usable things out of the landfill, save people a replacement, and teach repair skills. The cafe plans to return every other month at the Bees Ferry West Ashley Library on Sanders Road. Laughlin said he had not known whether the room would fill. It did.