Reines RV Center: A Look Inside A Virginia RV Center
Posted on Thu, Sep 22, 2011
When "Dusty" Reines began his used car business, Reines Motor Co., after returning from his military service in World War II, he would have no way of knowing what the future would hold. This year, Reines RV Center is celebrating 65 years in business. Still family owned and operated, it has blossomed from a tiny rented space at a gas station to their 51,300 square foot building on 10 acres!
"Dusty" started Reines Motor Co. in a small rented space beside a gas station in 1946. Cars were hard to get. He traveled up and down the east coast to find used cars to sell. In the 1950s he had saved enough to buy a lot with a small office and attached garage in Arlington, VA and Reines Motor Co. moved into it's own space. The sign out front said "Any Car $10 Down".
In the early 1960s, he bought three travel trailers to sell on the lot and they quickly sold. He bought a few more and they also sold right away. So, he decided to phase out of used cars and go into the recreational vehicle business. He said, "I had no idea what I was getting into. It never dawned on me that these would be so popular." The early days of the RV industry were not easy. "It took a 'helluva lot' of work: seven days a week without a vacation for 20 years," "Dusty" said.
Soon, his two young sons, Richard and Lindsey, began going to work with "Dusty" from time to time when there was no school. They loved it! Lindsey said that he started washing RVs when he was 13 years old and sold his first trailer at 14! As a teenager, Richard designed some travel trailers that were manufactured and sold!
When they finished their educations, Richard and Lindsey began working at the dealership full time. Richard suggested that "Dusty" change the name from Reines Motor Co. to Reines Motor and Trailer Co. and he did. They eventually decided that their facility was too small. They sold it, bought a former new car dealership in Fairfax, VA and moved in 1982.
Shortly after the RV center moved, "Dusty" retired, although he came in once a week to chat with customers and see how things were going. Richard and Lindsey took over and began expanding and modernizing the company. They took on more RV lines, expanded the inventory, hired more people and started a rental department, among other innovations. They also changed the name to Reines RV Center.
At first, they wondered how they would fill the space of their new location. But, in less than 15 years, they began to see that they were running out of room! They began looking for a larger piece of property where they could build their own state of the art RV center. They found a ten acre lot off of Rt. 66 in Manassas, VA and started planning the new facility.
In the summer of 1998, Reines RV Center moved. The 51,300 square foot building could accommodate a large, comfortable RV showroom. They had a separate space for a large parts and accessories store and a 16 bay service department. Richard and Lindsey couldn't have been more excited! And, "Dusty" couldn't have been more proud!
A few months later, however, the family received the worst possible news. Richard was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He was unable to continue working at his beautiful new RV center and began cancer treatment. After five months, he passed away. Lindsey was left to carry on the Reines family legacy. He said that "Dusty" and Richard would be very pleased that the dealership they worked so hard to establish continues to grow and prosper.
The dealership employs many of the same people who were hired in the 1980s in Fairfax, VA. It's truly a family business! Lindsey is proud to carry on the dreams of his family and help fulfill the dreams of other families!
Over the years, Reines RV Center has adhered to the commitment to customer service that "Dusty" made so many years ago. Many customers have been coming to the RV center for 20, 30 and 40 years. Children of customers have also come back as adult customers. Reines RV Center has won many awards from industry groups for customer service, including two "Top 50 Dealer" awards and a "Top Quality Dealer of the Year" award. Lindsey is on the board of directors of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association. He still loves the business as much as he did when he was a teenager! And, Lindsey and the entire staff are committed to working with the manufacturers, suppliers and other business partners to improve the RV experience for all of their customers.
