For someone in Berks County looking to buy a car via an auto auction, there haven’t been many choices. It required a trip to either the Lehigh Valley or the Philadelphia suburbs.
The giant auctions near Lancaster, such as Manheim, are restricted to dealers only.
Christopher Miller and Erik Faust want to change that.
The two are owners of the Reading Public Auto Auction, which will conduct its first sale today.
“There was a void in the area,” Miller said. “There was a need for a public auto auction near Reading.”
Renovated building
Located at the former Kachel Ford at 2400 Lancaster Pike, Cumru Township, Miller and Faust invested about $250,000 into the building, which they are leasing from the Kachel family.
Improvements include a new roof, pavement, fencing, electrical, paint, plumbing and carpeting.
Miller, who has worked in the automotive industry for more than 15 years, said the location, near the Shillington exit from Route 222, was perfect.
“It gives the area new life,” Miller said. “It fits our needs. It’s a great spot with its location near the bypass. Reading is in need of this.”
The RPAA fills yet another vacant business in the corridor. Empty storefronts have been dotting Lancaster Pike in Cumru Township, from the Route 222 split to the Shillington line.
On one end is the Gateway at Grings Hill, which has a Reading Hospital Medical Group building, opened in 2011. On the other end, a Walgreens drug store opened last fall on the site of a former Blockbuster Video at the corner of Lancaster Pike and Museum Road. An AutoZone store will soon open in the former Your Place restaurant in the same shopping center.
A Dollar General was built on the site of a former Chinese restaurant and opened last year, while the Big Time Thrift Store took the space in an empty La-Z-Boy furniture store.
The most prominent remaining space is a former Giant Food supermarket.
The process
The auction itself will be held indoors in the former garage area, where a platform for auctioneer Bill Howze and a seating area for the audience were built.
Auctions will be held every Tuesday and begin at 6 p.m. Faust said they will run between 2 1/2 and three hours, depending on the inventory’s size.
Miller said the auction gets its inventory from dealer overstock and individual sellers.
Cars will be brought inside after being staged in an inventory lot outside. After the bidding, which Faust said will take “about a minute” for each vehicle, it is moved to the exit, where the successful bidder can pay via cash, check or credit card. An onsite notary will take care of the paperwork. Insurance and detailing are also available.
“It’s a fun, fast-paced environment,” said Faust, who also owns Berks County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sinking Spring; Lost Soul Tattoo, Spring City, Chester County; and Mattress Now, Sinking Spring.
Those who want to bid on a car must buy an RPAA membership, which costs $19.99 for a year, though they will be only $10 through today.
Individuals can also sell their cars through RPAA for a $35 fee.
Spectators welcome
Even if you’re not looking to buy, spectators can come by and watch the action, at no cost, and get some ideas for a future vehicle.
“The benefit of this is that you can stop by every week until you find what you need,” Faust said.
RPAA is planning different events, such as a classic car auction later in the summer, along with auctions for motorcycles and recreational vehicles. Miller said government fleet cars will also be offered in the future.
Today’s grand opening will feature a car giveaway raffle.
Contact Evan Jones: 610-371-5066 or ejones@readingeagle.com.
