Grapevine co-owner branches out with new luxury car for-hire business

Mitchell Trak and his Trak Transportation fleet. (Courtesy Trak Transportation)

As a member of the family that owns longtime West End Greek and Italian restaurant Grapevine, Mitchell Trak is used to dealing in moussaka and baked spaghetti. 

Now, with his new side venture, his tools of the trade are vintage RollsRoyces, Mercedes and Porsches. 

Trak last month launched Trak Transportation, which rents out a fleet of vintage and specialized vehicles for chauffeur-driven transport. 

A self-described car fanatic, Trak said he has always loved cars, starting with assembling model cars as a young boy to fixing up junkers as an adult. 

“I love taking something from bad and old to new and different,” he said.

Trak, who continues to serve as Grapevine’s general manager, said the restaurant’s catering business helped inspire his new company. He said catering customers, who largely use the service for weddings, would often ask him for assistance with transportation to and from the wedding venue. 

Mitchell Trak

He decided to combine that trend with his affinity for classic cars to create a business model that goes beyond the traditional limousine rental service. 

He currently has five cars in his fleet: a Rolls-Royce named Lady Luna; a limo shuttle bus named Madame Bella; another Rolls- Royce called Miss Magnolia; Bertha, a Mercedes-Benz; and Porscha, a Porsche. He also has another Mercedes in the works. The vehicles are stored in a storage space near the restaurant. 

Trak said he acquired his vehicles through mutual friends and car clubs. Each car and their name has its own special backstory, he said. The Madame Bella limo was named after the vehicle’s original owner.

Trak Transportation has a team of four chauffeurs to drive the vehicles and assist customers with any additional needs. The chauffeur service is complete with umbrellas that match the color of the car they’re driving.

“It just adds a touch of class and sophistication, especially if you want to show off for the day,” Trak said.

So far, Trak Transportation cars have been used for services ranging from weddings to birthdays to rap music videos. 

Given that the service attracts a lot of customers for weddings, Trak Transportation works hand in hand with the rest of the Trak family businesses. With the Grapevine’s catering services and his wife’s work as a wedding planner, he’s able to benefit from word-of-mouth advertising. He said his goal is to become a one-stop-shop for weddings. 

He said while Trak Transportation is a separate LLC, it operates as a sister company to the others. 

Trak said he’s invested over $100,000 into launching the business, largely related to insurance costs. Other costs included restoration, which Trak handles, and detailing, mainly using Astonishing Detail. 

He plans to keep managing the restaurant full time, with transportation as a side gig. 

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