On the corner of North Main and West Church Street sits a picturesque little auto repair shop that looks as if it was pulled directly from the pages of a retro americana photo album. Although it has seemingly stood the test of time, it recently experienced a breath of new life in the form of Red’s Quick Lube & Tire. Like an old friend, it’s hard not to pass by and admire the building for the hard work that’s sure to have taken place within it over the years. Any time of day, you can catch a glimpse of the dedicated, blue-collar owner, Dustin Lewis, working diligently through grease and sweat to get our locals safely back on the road. However, something your eyes won’t tell you is the inspiring story of how Red’s Quick Lube came to be.
“I started doing this right out of high school.” Lewis began to explain, “I was 18 years old and got a job at Terwilligers Quick Lube.”
In 2007, Lewis began working at Terwilligers Auto Repair Shop. It was the beginning of a journey that he assumed would just fill his pockets and give him some knowledge of the trade, yet what he earned during his time there was far more substantial than that alone. Like most everyone, when Lewis began, he had to start from the very bottom and work his way to the top. Before long, he had put in 16 dedicated years with Terwilligers and was running their entire Quick Lube department where he was responsible for maintaining forty to fifty cars a day. It was from this experience that Lewis learned to accept the blessings of beginnings so that he could create his own.
“When I started working in the Quick Lube department, I worked for a man named, Terry Gay, who taught me most everything that I know.” He explained, “He played a large part in who I am today.”
Before dedicating over 30 years of expertise to Terwilligers Tire Pro and eventually Managing the Quick Lube Department, Terry Gay owned and operated Gay’s Service Station with his brother Ronald Gay from the mid 70’s until the mid 90’s. After renting the service station out for some time, the Gay’s decided to put it up for sale. Then, in March of 2022, Mr. Terry Gay, who was known for “his many years of employment at Terwilliger’s, where he touched so many lives.”, sadly passed away, following an extended illness.
As the empty service station remained for sale, Lewis felt compelled to give it a second chance in honor of his late friend, Terry Gay. It was at this moment that he knew what he was meant to do and immediately met with Gay’s sons, Adam, Jonathan, and Daniel to ask if they would allow him to buy the shop. After agreements were made and papers were signed, Lewis began transforming the space into Red’s Quick Lube & Tire. This not only gave him the opportunity to have a fresh new start but allowed him to carry on the legacy of his dear friend and mentor.
“This was originally his service station,” Lewis said of his friend, Terry Gay, as he stood in the middle of the auto repair shop and looked around at the walls, almost seeming to wonder what history they would tell if only they could talk, “Because of that, it’s always held a special place in my heart. Mr. Terry was truly the inspiration from the very beginning. Even when I didn’t know what the future held.”
On October 3, 2022, Lewis and his wife Carmen opened Red’s Quick Lube & Tire in the same location that Gay’s Service Station occupied, years ago. From the moment their doors opened, they have been providing customers with an outstanding service in all things automotive, from oil changes to complete car repair. Something more that can be said regarding their outstanding customer service, however, is the amount of effort and time that they put into each person that walks into their shop, never viewing them as a client but always as a friend.
“We truly value our customers and see them as family. We want to make sure everyone is taken care of and receives a fast, friendly service.” The Lewis’s explained.
Although both Dustin and Carmen are Emanuel County natives from Stillmore, they currently reside in Metter where they’re raising their two children, 15-year-old Jada and 11-year-old Jacob.
Understandably, the Lewis’s truly define what it means to be family oriented inside and outside of the office. Together they share a servant’s heart and always recognize the needs of others and are ready serve just as Mr. Terry did, with the right motivation.
“We’re just so thankful for everyone’s support, especially being that we just started out. We look forward to seeing everybody.” The Lewis concluded.
Red’s Quick Lube and Tire is located at 302 North Main Street in Swainsboro.
