Local computer repair gurus join forces, form new business

TOPTECH is located on the second floor of the Marcel Center, across from the original Mount Vernon High School. (Erika Christ image)

Two Richmond Highway-area computer repair experts, including a business owner who lost his shop in the Mount Vernon Antique Center fire, have combined operations.

Mt. Vernon Computers and The Eldest Geek have merged to create TopTech Computer Repair, a shop specializing in PC and Mac repairs, data recovery, networking and mobile issues. TopTech, which officially opened in mid-March, is located in the Marcel Center at 8332 Richmond Highway, across from the old Mount Vernon High School (see map).

Mt. Vernon Computers has been around for more than a decade, based out of owner Daryl Elliott’s home in the Woodlawn area. When the antique center burned down in December, Craig Baker — aka “The Eldest Geek” — was left without a base of operations. The two computer specialists, who had talked previously about combining operations, decided it was time to make a move.

“It seemed like the time to revisit the conversation,” said Baker, who had worked out of the antique center for 10 years and lost a number of personal belongings and extra equipment in the blaze. 

“I spent the first month being pretty depressed about it,” Baker said. “[But] when something like that happens, you can sit there and mope about, or you can view it as an opportunity rather than a problem.”

TopTech will have a total of five technicians on staff with a combined experience of more than 85 years, Elliott said. The shop will have regular office hours from 11 a.m. -7 p.m., Monday-Saturday, and by appointment on Sunday. They are also available for house calls.

Elliott says TopTech prides itself on quick turnarounds and reliable craftsmanship. He also says the business will look to build customer relationships by communicating about technical issues in plain language, ensuring customers without computer backgrounds feel as welcome as those looking for help with complex issues.

“We talk to [customers] as a person,” Elliott said. “We don’t think of our customers any less for not knowing computer stuff.”