The first thing you notice at Chicago Car Collective is the hum of engines. Then the cars themselves. Each one is different, deliberate, precise. For Sam Goodman, the founder, it started with a single word: “wheels.” Cars have always been more than machines. They are movement, identity, freedom. Learning to drive at sixteen was a milestone, but it also marked the start of a lifetime of expression.
“As an adult, it becomes expression,” Goodman says. “Everyone is a one-of-one. Cars give people freedom. Freedom of self-expression. Freedom to pursue passion.”
That philosophy drives Chicago Car Collective, Sam’s private automotive club and storage space in Bridgeport. The space blends industrial strength with intentional design. Engines hum. Conversations unfold. Every detail is considered. It’s not about spectacle. It’s about creating a place that matters to the people in it.
Goodman’s fascination with cars started early. He asked his parents to take him to dealerships for his birthday. He wandered showrooms in awe. He remembers the first Ferrari he saw on a Chicago street. “It looked almost like an alien,” he says. That sense of exclusivity has stayed with him.
Membership at CCC is selective. Applicants join by referral or personal meeting with Goodman. “The people in my network are the business,” he says. “The goal is to work with these people for life.”
The garage is industrial but thoughtful. Members can bring guests at any hour. There’s a bar, a full kitchen, and an upstairs lounge that doubles as workspace and retreat. Wine tastings, cigar nights, fashion shows, brand launches, and private events all take place here. The space has even been used for filming The Chi.
Goodman has a clear view on cars. Technology is useful, but nostalgia matters. Porsche balances tradition with innovation. French cars are full of surprises. “It takes a full minute to get one in reverse,” he laughs.
Before CCC, Goodman spent years in automotive sales, including Bentley Gold Coast, and commercial real estate. The idea for the collective was his. He pitched it to his partners, who came on board after some time. “No one thought I’d get it done,” he says.
At CCC, nuance is everything. “If I see 100 of the same Porsche, it’s not as exciting as something unique, something with a story,” he says. Conversations often move from engines to ambition, creativity, and ideas. Goodman intentionally built a space where people connect over shared passion. “It’s not just my network anymore,” he says.
Looking ahead, CCC is planning a second location and continuing to host unique experiences. Collaborations with local brands, artisans, and educational programs are already in discussion. While the business grows, so does his personal world, both expanding with the same careful attention he gives to his garage.
For Goodman, loving local isn’t a slogan. It’s showing up, investing, and creating spaces where passion thrives. “If it matters to you,” he says, “it can matter to other people.”
At Chicago Car Collective, that philosophy hums steadily, like an engine running beneath the surface. It powers a community built on intention, craftsmanship, and the shared love of cars.