You’re driving down West Main Street in Waynesboro, past the fast food joints and the local shops, and you look for that familiar blue oval sign. For decades, locals knew exactly where to go for a truck or an oil change: Jim Snead Waynesboro VA. It was a landmark. But if you’ve swung by recently, you might have noticed the name on the building doesn't match the one on your old license plate frame.
Change is weird in a small town. People get used to things.
Honestly, the transition from Jim Snead Ford to what is now Campus Ford caught a few folks off guard, even though the dealership had been a staple of the community for over 50 years. It wasn't just a business; it was where people like Patricia “Pat” Snead worked for half a century. When a place has that much history, a name change feels like more than just new stationary.
What Actually Happened to Jim Snead Ford?
In February 2022, the keys officially changed hands. Matt Gruver, the owner of Campus Automotive in Blacksburg, stepped in and acquired the dealership.
He didn't just stumble into it.
Gruver had been building a reputation in Blacksburg with a garage and a body shop, and taking over the Ford franchise in Waynesboro was a massive leap. He spent a year driving four hours a day just to keep things moving and integrate the old Jim Snead culture with his "Campus" brand. Basically, the Jim Snead Waynesboro VA you remember didn't go out of business; it just evolved into a new era under the Campus Ford banner.
You’ve probably seen the old vintage hats or the metal dealer plates on eBay. They’re collectors' items now. People buy them because that "Jim Snead" name carries a certain weight in the Shenandoah Valley. It represents a time when you’d walk in, see Mickey Painter or Gerald Harman, and feel like you weren't just a "lead" in a CRM database.
The Experience on West Main Street Today
So, is it different now? Yes and no.
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Walk into the showroom at 2401 West Main Street today, and you’ll see the same faces that were there back in 2016 and 2019. That’s a rarity in the car business. Usually, when a new owner takes over, there’s a total "house cleaning." But at the former Jim Snead Waynesboro VA location, continuity was the goal.
- The Service Department: Doug Kershner and his team are still the backbone of the shop.
- The Sales Floor: You’ll still find guys like Aaron Shobe and Gerald Harman helping people navigate the headache of trade-ins and financing.
- The Vibe: It’s still very much a local spot, despite the corporate-sounding "Campus" name.
If you’re coming in for "The Works" fuel saver package or a VA state inspection, you’re still getting the same technicians who have been under Ford hoods for years.
Why People Still Search for Jim Snead
The internet is forever, but human habits are even stickier. People still search for Jim Snead Waynesboro VA because that’s the name they’ve trusted since their first F-150 in the 90s.
Search engines are smart, but they aren't always great at explaining why a business changed its identity. When you look up the old name, you're usually looking for two things: the phone number (which is still 540-932-3200) or the reputation.
A lot of the reviews from 2025 and 2026 show that the "family" feel hasn't disappeared. One customer recently noted how they were traveling through from Pennsylvania when a warning light popped up, and the team treated them like they’d been coming there for years. That was the Jim Snead way. It seems to be the Campus way too.
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Beyond Just Selling Cars
The Snead family name is woven into the fabric of Virginia.
While Jim Snead the dealer was a Waynesboro fixture, the broader family history includes veterans, textile managers, and community volunteers across the state. It’s a legacy of service. When Pat Snead retired after 50 years at the dealership, it marked the end of an incredible run for a local business.
Dealing with cars is often stressful. It's expensive. It’s confusing.
The reason this specific dealership survived while others folded is because they stayed transparent. Whether it was Mickey Painter spending three days to find a specific Ford Escape for a customer from New York or the service team being honest about a recall repair taking longer than expected, the "Waynesboro way" was always about the long game.
What You Need to Know Before You Visit
If you’re heading over to 2401 W Main St, don’t look for the "Snead" sign on the pylon. Look for Campus Ford.
The dealership still holds a 4.7-star rating on most major review platforms, which is honestly impressive for a service-heavy industry. They’ve added a few modern perks like a mobile charging station and a business center if you’re stuck there while your tires are rotated.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit:
- Book Online: They actually follow through with online appointments now, which used to be a gamble.
- Ask for the Veterans: If you want that old-school Snead experience, ask for the staff members who have been there for 10+ years. They know the history.
- Check the Inventory: The lot is a lot fuller than it was during the 2021-2022 shortages, so they actually have Transit vans and F-150s on the ground.
- Tire Specials: They are a major dealer for Michelin, Firestone, and BFGoodrich. Often, their tire prices beat the big-box stores when you factor in the local road hazard warranties.
The name on the front of the building changed, but the spirit of Jim Snead Waynesboro VA is still very much alive in the way they handle their customers and their community.