Main Street Business

Ruge’s Automotive Group is celebrating its 90th year in business in 2025 – a remarkable accomplishment. I caught up with Kristin Ruge Hutchins, the president and CEO of Ruge’s, to learn more about the business’ backstory, how the brand has grown and changed over the past 90 years, and what exciting things they have coming up in 2025. 

Can you tell me the story of the Ruge’s brand?

In 1935, my grandfather, Joseph Ruge, started the company as a one-pump Sunoco fueling station and limited repair facility. It was originally located directly across from the Beekman Arms in the Village of Rhinebeck, NY, but by 1938, he had experienced enough success that he needed more space, so he moved to a larger property at 6444 Montgomery Street, where we still operate today as a Subaru Sales location. 

After my dad Lewis graduated from Rhinebeck High School in 1956, he went on to obtain a BA in mechanical engineering from Union College (in 1960). At that point, he entered the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant missile officer and instructor, eventually earning the designation of captain. When he and my mom Charlotte got married in 1963, they decided to return to his hometown here in Rhinebeck. It was then that he became my grandfather’s partner in the business. He and my mom are still very much involved – in fact, he is out on the floor of the service center on a daily basis working with longtime customers and employees!

About ten years ago, after taking on more and more responsibilities with the business myself, I became the third-generation president and CEO of Ruge’s. My husband Scott is our vice president, and many members of our family continue to work here.

What was it like growing up in a generational family business? How many generations have been involved in the business up to this point?

It’s been an honor – it’s definitely a unique and special experience to work in a family business in your hometown, and I am very grateful for that.

From the time my two sisters (Gretchen, who still works at Ruge’s, and Erica, who is now a professional triathlete) and I were young, it was clear that volunteerism was a priority for the family – balancing charitable interests with the demands of being self-employed was just something that my dad seemed to do with ease. Having been in the military, of course, he had clearly made service a focus of his life early on, and that love of community has shaped our family and everyone around him in positive ways. We’ve learned that it is one thing to be IN a community but another altogether to be INVOLVED in the community. 

Growing up in the business meant that we were all keenly aware of the importance of giving back in some way, and now we see the younger generation beginning to do that in the context of their own personal and professional paths as well. (Tanner Hutchins, sales manager at Ruge’s Chevrolet, is the fourth generation to build his career in the family business, and he, too, supports many community initiatives, so the tradition continues!).

How has Ruge’s grown and changed?

Over our 90 years since inception, Ruge’s Auto Group has grown to include several stores: Ruge’s Subaru (Rhinebeck), Ruge’s Ford (Rhinebeck), Ruge’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (Rhinebeck), and Ruge’s Chevrolet (Millbrook), and we recently opened the doors to Ruge’s Service Center (Rhinebeck) as well. We now have over 100 employees and provide comprehensive training and professional development opportunities for our team to ensure that they are experts on the latest technologies (which are ever-changing) and the best practices in our field. 

We have also gotten quite involved on an industry level. I’ve served as chairperson of the Retail Women’s Network 20 Group, member of the GM Women’s Advisory Council, and member of the Regional Women’s Network, among other leadership roles. I regularly attend conferences and workshops nationwide and have presented on panels focused on topics relevant to women building careers in what has historically been a male-dominated industry. 

It has been really interesting to see how things have evolved in recent years. We enjoy that there is always something new to learn and countless opportunities to cultivate the talent of emerging professionals in the automotive business (locally and nationally).

What are some of the most memorable/pivotal moments over Ruge’s history?

Like any milestone in life, our 90th anniversary has definitely given us a chance to consider the many moments that have made us who we are today. I think one of the most pivotal moments that comes to mind was the introduction of Subaru to our business. When the first line of Subarus were delivered to our property, the brand was virtually unknown and struggled for a long time. With the advent of Subaru’s asymmetrical four-wheel drive system and given the Northeast driving conditions, the brand began seeing success, growing across the country, and it has turned out to be a visionary move. Subaru further strengthened its brand through vehicle safety, meeting or exceeding NHTSA requirements, and Subaru remains well-known for its extraordinary safety features. So that decision – to carry Subarus – was definitely an excellent one for our business! And what’s more is that the Subaru Share the Love program has helped us raise tens of thousands of dollars for worthy causes over the years.

A more recent pivotal moment was opening the brand new Ruge’s Service Center on a property that had long been vacant; seeing the doors open to our first customers there was extremely rewarding. We encourage people to check it out when they need an oil change or any kind of service work. It’s truly beautiful.

Can you tell me a bit about your team across all of the dealerships?

We have a wonderful team of dedicated professionals. We are so proud to work with all of them. They share a commitment to our guiding principles and create the exceptional customer service experience that people deserve. Many of our employees grew up in the area, while others have come to us from other parts of the region or country. They work hard and have fun together, and we do all we can to give them the comprehensive benefits and positive workplace atmosphere that will help them thrive personally and professionally.

I know being community-oriented is very important for Ruge’s. What are some of the ways in which Ruge’s is involved with the community?

The Ruge’s business brand is known for sponsoring all kinds of activities: little league teams, food banks, youth enrichment programs, arts and cultural institutions, scholarships, and so much more. 

In addition, we’ve been a part of some very substantial charitable efforts that have enhanced life in our community and region. For example, Lewis, a founding member of the Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation Board (1984), co-chaired the Campaign for Northern Dutchess Hospital in 2002, raising $10.7 million for the construction of the Paul Rosenthal Pavilion and a new state-of-the-art emergency room. 

Shortly thereafter, his passion and perseverance once again led to unprecedented community engagement in a second fundraising campaign, yielding an impressive $10 million for the $22 million, 50,000-square-foot Sosnoff Pavilion. He served on the Dutchess County Agricultural Society Board of Directors for over two decades, during which he played an instrumental role in building the collaboration with the Village of Rhinebeck that led to the creation of the Fairgrounds Zoning District. He was also a driving force in the development of the Welcome Center, a beautiful addition that welcomes guests, houses special events, and enriches the property. And just steps from my grandfather’s original Ruge’s location, Lewis has been an active member of the M&T Bank Board since its days as First National Bank of Rhinebeck, helping lead them through several transitions and doing his best to ensure economic vitality for local people and businesses.

Many of us serve on boards, event committees, and in volunteer capacities with a wide range of groups in the Hudson Valley. I’ve been an officer with the Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation Board and the Rhinebeck Area Chamber of Commerce, in addition to being actively involved with the Millbrook Business Association, as a few examples. Most people who work at Ruge’s are doing some kind of volunteer work,  and as a business, we do our best to get behind their passions where we can.

What’s most rewarding about your work?

Like everyone on our team, I really enjoy the relationships we get to build with people from all walks of life. We might have someone who’s expecting a new baby come in to buy a larger vehicle so there’s room for a car seat – and then years later, the baby who sat in that very car seat is back to purchase or lease his or her first car. Or we may see a grandparent who is moving to the Hudson Valley to be closer to family and needs a four-wheel-drive vehicle walk in with adult children who we’ve collaborated with on a local board of directors. It is very gratifying to get to know multiple generations of family members and to work with them time and again over the years, following them along their own life journeys through their own various milestones.

What do you see going forward for the Ruge’s brand?

We will continue to grow, expand, and evolve to meet the needs of our colleagues and community, embracing any challenges as opportunities and doing everything we can to deliver a highly sought-after automotive sales and service experience. And, as always, we will continue to do our part to enrich life for others through our volunteerism and charitable community work. We feel so grateful to live in such a wonderful area and know that we all have a responsibility to take care of it for the generations to come.

Is there anything else you’d like the community to know about Ruge’s or its 90th anniversary?

We will be planning a 90th anniversary celebration event, which will likely be held later this year at our Ruge’s Service Center in Rhinebeck. •

Ruge’s Auto Group has locations in Rhinebeck and Millbrook, NY. For more information, visit rugesauto.com.