The Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships, with 24 dealerships across Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania, has expanded its footprint in Lewes, DE, with the acquisition of Lewes Body Works Collision Center.
Renamed the Hertrich Collision Center of Lewes New Road, it becomes the 13th collision center in the dealership group and its second in Lewes, located just 3 miles from Hertrich Collision Center of Lewes, which opened in January 2021.
“We are exhilarated by this opportunity to serve the Lewes community in a greater capacity and add the legacy of Lewes Body Works to the Hertrich family,” said Fred Hertrich IV.
Established in 1982, Lewes Body Works has been an integral part of the community, earning a reputation for quality and trustworthiness.
Owner Richard Perez began his career in the automotive industry at 13, pumping gas and changing oil after school and on weekends at a station in Lewes. The owner of that station purchased Lewes Body Works in 1982, but after he passed away suddenly in 2001, Perez purchased it from the family in 2002. Perez is proud of the state-of-the-art facility Lewes Body Works has become over the years through extensive renovation and modernization.
“I loved being able to take care of and complete repairs for people I’ve known around Lewes my whole life,” Perez said, adding he is grateful to the Lewes community for a business built without advertising or direct repair relationships with insurance companies. It has been nothing but repeat business and referrals keeping him busy seven days a week for more than 20 years.
Lewes Body Works also has a staff of long-time employees Hertrich looks forward to welcoming to its team.
When asked what he would do with his newfound free time, Perez laughed and said, “Take the opportunity to travel with my wife and stay busy as always.”
The newly acquired will join the family's network of 13 collision centers, offering a range of services from paintless dent repair to major collision repair. Equipped with the latest technology, the center will deliver top-tier repair services, maintaining the high standards associated with the Hertrich brand.
