The Story
The Mac Space was founded by Stephen Smitley, a United States Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008.
As a Generator Operator and Electrician (MOS 1141), Stephen was among the first five Marines to land at FOB Dwyer when it was nothing but an empty stretch of sand in the middle of nowhere. He helped build that base from the ground up - setting up electricity, routing power to tents, installing AC units, and even serving his fellow Marines on the chow line. He left the Corps as a Sergeant in 2014, but the discipline, work ethic, and commitment to service never left him.
Stephen's love for technology started long before the Marines. At 10 years old - before YouTube even existed - he was pulling apart broken desktop computers found on the side of the road, Frankensteining five dead machines into one that actually worked. In high school, he took electronics and soldering classes, earning top marks. By 2007, he was already diving deep into the world of Apple before most people even understood what a smartphone could do.
After the military, Stephen pursued a degree in Audio and Video Production at the Art Institute of Atlanta while also studying Electrical Engineering. He was one quarter away from graduating when VA funding issues forced him to step away. But he never stopped learning, never stopped building.
He went on to work in video production and streaming, then became the Computer Department Lead at one of the largest staging companies in the nation. When COVID hit in 2020, he was furloughed like millions of others. But Stephen didn't wait for the world to reopen.
The $500 Bet
With $500 to his name and nothing to lose, Stephen bought seven broken MacBooks and said "Screw it - I'm going to figure this out."
He repaired them. He sold them. And then he did it again.
During the height of the pandemic, while people were afraid to leave their homes, Stephen was driving up to 200 miles to deliver repaired computers directly to customers. He went into neighborhoods others wouldn't. He took risks. By the grace of God, he was never robbed - and he helped hundreds of people stay connected to work, school, and family when they needed it most.
What We Stand For
The Mac Space isn't trying to be Apple. We're not here to imitate anyone. But we do believe in what Steve Jobs believed in: that technology should just work, that quality matters, and that the people you serve deserve honesty and integrity.
This is a community repair shop. We fix what others say can't be fixed. We charge fair prices. We explain what's wrong in plain English. And we stand behind our work - because that's what service means.
From a Marine who built a base in the Afghan desert, to a kid who built his first computer from roadside scraps, to a business owner who bet everything on seven broken laptops during a pandemic - The Mac Space was built on grit, knowledge, and an unshakeable belief that if something's broken, you find a way to fix it.
Our Values
Service First
Once a Marine, always a Marine. We serve our customers the way we'd serve our brothers and sisters in uniform.
Fix It Right
Component-level repair. Real diagnostics. No shortcuts. If it can be saved, we'll save it.
Honest Always
Straight talk. Fair prices. No upselling. You'll know exactly what's wrong and what it costs.
Community Strong
We're not a corporation. We're your neighbors. Atlanta is home, and we take care of our own.
Visit Our Store
Address: 2200 Roswell Rd. Suite 130, Marietta, GA 30062
Phone: 470-355-0477
Email: support@themacspace.com
The Mac Space is an independent repair shop. We are not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Apple Inc. Apple, Mac, MacBook, iMac, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc.