About Us

Welcome to Ruge's Chevrolet

Welcome to Ruge's Chevrolet, the leading automotive dealer in Millbrook, NY, and the answer to all your automotive needs. Our unique approach to the car-buying and owning process has earned us a stellar reputation throughout the region and gives our customers more reasons to get excited about buying their next vehicle. But what does that mean for you, and more importantly, what does it mean to invest in our team? It guarantees an experience like no other.

Our Timeline

1935:

Joseph Ruge opened a one-pump Sunoco gas station and repair shop across from Rhinebeck’s Beekman Arms. Ruge's soon became an Oldsmobile dealer. Joseph's brother Herman, who sold cars in the Bronx, helped ship vehicles by rail up to Rhinecliff station.

1938:

Success motivated Joseph to move to a 3-bay garage at 6444 Montgomery Street, just a quarter mile from its original location, but "much too far out of town," according to locals. His son, Lewis Ruge, was born later that year.

1949:

A new Oldsmobile showroom was added.

1963:

After completing college and serving for 3 years as an Officer in the United States Air Force, Lewis joined his dad as a partner in the business.

1970:

Lewis saw a market for a smaller economy car and became one of America’s very first Subaru dealers.

1985:

Celebrating 50 years, Ruge's opened a Chrysler Plymouth Dodge location in Red Hook.

1989:

Ruge's opened a wholesale auto parts and accessories store in Red Hook, employing more locals and adding to its position as an industry leader in the Hudson River Valley.

1997:

As the demand for Subaru vehicles grew Ruge's built a brand-new showroom across the street from its original Oldsmobile location.

2016:

The business expanded with the purchase of Audia Motor Sales, now known as Ruge's Chevrolet on route 44 in Millbrook, NY.

2020:

Ruge's purchased Rhinebeck Ford, just down the road from Ruge's CDJ. Ruge's Ford became the fourth rooftop in the family of dealerships!

2024:

Ruge’s Subaru opens a new state-of-the-art Service facility on the site of the old Stamp plant on Route 9G near the Ford & CDJ dealerships.

Ruge's Chevrolet has a unique advantage as a veteran in the automotive business and a pillar in the community. Our story began in 1935 when Joseph Ruge opened a one-pump Sunoco fueling station and repair facility across from Beekman Arms, a beloved venue at the time. Within a few months, Joseph expanded his dream and became an authorized Oldsmobile dealer, relying on his brother, Herman, to ship vehicles via railway from the Bronx.

With Joseph unloading every model by himself at the Rhinecliff Train Station, the young Ruge showed his work ethic and dedication to his customers. This laid the foundation for success, giving Joseph the opportunity to expand the business to a three-bay garage on Montgomery Street in 1938. Although the garage was only a quarter-mile from the original Sunoco station, locals claimed it was "much too far out of town." Even so, Joseph continued to entice customers with his passion and promise to deliver a unique customer experience.

Over the next several decades, Joseph expanded the business and his life in many ways, starting with the birth of his son, Lewis. In the 1950s, he added an Oldsmobile showroom, followed by sales, auto service, parts, and accessories businesses that showcased his ongoing commitment to his customers. As a result, the Ruge name became synonymous with small-town values and big brand sophistication, two traits that would forever define the company.

A Family Affair

After spending his childhood learning the family business from his father, Lewis finished college and served in the United States Air Force before he returned to his roots in 1963. He became an official partner in the business and set out to build on his father's dreams, taking the Ruge name to a new level. Professionally, Lewis answered his customers' demands for a more economical car by making Ruge's one of the first Subaru dealers in America. At the same time, he pursued his passion for the community and, alongside his wife and three daughters, became a highly respected volunteer and philanthropist renowned for making the area a better and brighter place to live.

With Lewis at the helm, Ruge's became an industry leader in the Hudson River Valley and a top employer. Its ongoing growth took many forms, including the opening of the Chrysler Plymouth Dodge dealership in Red Hook in 1985 and the accompanying wholesale parts and accessories store in 1989. The new millennium brought next-level growth when Lewis purchased Audia Motor Sales and established Ruge's Chevrolet in Millbrook in 2016.

Why Choose Us

Our vast experience in the automotive business is integral to who we are and what you'll experience when you shop with Ruge's Chevrolet. This experience has taught us many valuable lessons, especially the importance of making our customers a priority. With so many dealerships to choose from, you chose us, and that's a great reason to celebrate.

Choosing Ruge's Chevrolet means never settling for less by working with a team of experts dedicated to putting the excitement back into the car-buying and owning experience. We're proud to do things differently, embodying Joseph's vision with our commitment to integrity, transparency, and respect. These values guide our dealership and guarantee a top-notch experience, whether you're working with our sales team, finalizing your purchase with our vehicle financing team, or relying on the expertise of the factory-trained technicians that run our state-of-the-art service center. What you see is what you get with Ruge's Chevrolet, and that's an experience like no other.