Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
Back in 1959, John Rupert opened Rupert's Auto Body on Washoe Indian Colony land on South Curry Street, inside a building he built using concrete blocks he made himself.
But what made it a success for all these years was the wisdom Rupert imparted to his grandsons who run the business today.
"Our grandfather passed onto us that if we take care of the customers, they'll take care of you," said Ted Rupert, who is general manager of the business. "And I've found that to be true. It's not about the advertising or what your shop looks like. If you make sure the customer gets everything they want done, in return they will take care of you. Carson City is a small town, and they will send you customers, and they'll come back again."
Ted's brother Tobin owns the business and runs the shop, while Ted runs the business side. The shop has grown to 10 employees, with the newest employee having been there for six years.
"We take care of our employees the same way as customers," Ted said. "We have very little turnover, and we make sure everyone is treated like family."
The Ruperts revel in the history of the place. The red awning in front might be recognizable to older Carson City residents as belonging to the old Flying A gas station that was located at the corner of highways 50 and 395. The property used to consist of several buildings built over the years that the Ruperts have merged into one building.
The history is born out in the customers they serve.
"We get stories all the time where a customer comes and we have fixed their grandfather's car, their dad's car, and now theirs, all the way down the line," Ted said. "We always try to have lifetime customers here. I've seen generations of customers come here, and they trust us, and we make sure every single job is just as important, small jobs, big jobs, we do it all, cars, trucks, boats, RVs, everything."
Being in the business of fixing vehicles after bad things have happened to them creates a somewhat strange relationship with customers.
"I hear all the time, people say I appreciate what you did, but I hope I never see you again," Ted laughed. "I say the same thing, that I appreciate the business, and we'll be here just in case."
Dealing with people who have been in accidents is also something Rupert has learned through experience.
"I can tell you because I've been in an accident, that it's not fun," he said. "You're whole life comes to a complete stop, a lot of people get hurt, so we try to make it as easy as possible. We understand if it's a 30-year-old car or a three-day-old car, everybody's car is very special."
In 2004, they got the scare of their lives when news reports said that their business had been destroyed by the raging flames of the Waterfall fire.
That eventful day started with the Ruperts helping evacuate the homes of their neighbors at the base of the hillside closest to the advancing flames, packing items on their flatbed truck and locking them inside their garage for safe keeping.
After driving his grandmother to his house to get her safely away from the fire, Ted turned on the television and heard the shocking news.
"They said that Rupert's Auto Body had burnt to the ground, and they showed a picture of a building burnt to ashes," he said. "Being close is one thing, but seeing on the news that your whole place is disintegrated, oh my gosh, your heart just sinks."
Ted was finally able to make his way back into the fire area, where he found the building intact. The structure that had burned was actually two blocks away.
It was the next day that the Ruperts realized what a blessing had been bestowed on them, as offers of help came from all over the community, from people volunteering to help them move their tools, to others offering storage and work space for them to continue their business.
They showed their gratitude by hosting a barbecue for the firefighters and volunteers after the fire was put out. Many companies donated food and beverages, and the governor and mayor stopped by to offer their thanks as well.
Ted is already looking forward to a possible fourth generation taking over the business someday.
"I will probably say the exact same thing to my own son that my grandfather told me," he said. "You can take it over if you want to, but if you do, take care of people and they will take care of you."
- Contact reporter Kirk Caraway at kcaraway@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1261.