If you drove past an empty La Mesa RV building recently, or stumbled across a “beware” post on a camping forum, it’s easy to jump to conclusions. But the reality is more straightforward than the rumors suggest.
This article answers whether La Mesa RV is still operating, explains why some people think it’s closing, breaks down what the negative reviews actually mean, and shows you how to check the status of a specific location before you buy, sell, or service an RV.
La Mesa RV Is Still Open — The Short Answer
La Mesa RV is still an active, operating dealership group. As of the latest available information, the company’s official website lists current inventory, financing options, and service offerings across multiple states.
The website also runs an active sell and trade-in program where customers can get a cash offer for their RV. That kind of lead generation and capital outlay doesn’t happen at a business that’s winding down.
No credible news sources report a company-wide bankruptcy filing, formal shutdown announcement, or liquidation event. The business is operating. Some locations have moved or changed focus but that’s a different story from closing entirely.
Who La Mesa RV Is and How Big the Operation Is
La Mesa RV was founded in 1972 near San Diego, California, as a family-owned dealership. The company is now headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and has grown into a multi-state dealership group.
Current locations span California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Florida. Cities with La Mesa RV presence include San Diego, West Sacramento, Quartzsite, Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson, and Fort Myers, among others.
The company sells new and used motorized RVs Class A, B, and C coaches as well as towables. They operate under two brands: La Mesa RV for the broader motorized RV market, and RecVan, which targets the camper van and lifestyle travel segment specifically.
That’s not a small operation. A dealership network this size, with active inventory across multiple states, is not the profile of a business on the verge of collapse.
Why the “Going Out of Business” Rumor Keeps Circulating
The confusion usually starts with one of two things: an empty building or a bad review online. Both feel alarming, but neither one tells the full story.
Empty Buildings and Store Relocations
One clear example comes from a public discussion in the Arizona Camping Families Facebook group. A member posted asking whether La Mesa RV had gone out of business after noticing the Mesa, AZ location was vacant. Another member replied that the store had simply moved to Greenfield and the 202 and had also narrowed its inventory to Class A coaches and van-style coaches.
That’s a relocation combined with a product focus change. From the outside, an empty building looks like a closure. From the inside, it’s a business decision to move and specialize.
This kind of thing happens across retail and dealership industries all the time. A store moves to a better location or a lower-cost area. The old building sits empty. People assume the worst.
Market Cycles and Dealer Consolidation
The RV industry goes through real boom and bust cycles. During strong demand periods, dealers expand. When demand cools, they consolidate closing underperforming locations, shifting inventory mix, or moving to smaller footprints.
That pattern looks alarming from the outside, but it’s standard business behavior. Think of it like a retail chain closing its weakest stores while the parent company keeps operating profitably. The chain isn’t dying it’s adjusting.
La Mesa’s moves fit that pattern. A relocation in Mesa, a shift to motorized-only inventory in some locations these are strategic adjustments, not signs of a company falling apart.
What the Negative Reviews Actually Signal
La Mesa RV has real customer complaints, and you shouldn’t ignore them. But it’s worth understanding what those complaints actually tell you.
BBB reviews for La Mesa RV Centers Inc. include serious complaints about sales interactions and service quality. Some customers warn others to use caution. On the Good Sam community forum, one user described their experience at the Davie, FL location as “nothing short of a nightmare and a complete disappointment.”
A separate Facebook discussion noted that La Mesa has a policy of rotating sales staff after a set period of time during a deal. Some customers find this disorienting or high-pressure.
These are real concerns about customer experience. They’re worth reading before you decide to buy from La Mesa. But they are not evidence that the company is financially failing or about to shut down.
Plenty of large dealership groups carry mixed or negative reviews while staying financially healthy. Poor customer service and business insolvency are completely separate problems. Conflating them leads to the wrong conclusion.
The practical takeaway: read the reviews, take them seriously, and protect yourself with solid contracts and documentation but don’t read a bad review as a sign the business is closing.
What an Actual “Going Out of Business” Scenario Looks Like
It helps to know what real dealership failure looks like, so you can compare it to what’s actually happening with La Mesa.
When an RV dealer is genuinely going out of business, you typically see:
- Formal bankruptcy filings covered by business or industry news outlets
- Liquidation sales and clearance messaging across the website and signage
- Multiple location closures in a short period with no reopening elsewhere
- Rapidly shrinking or frozen inventory
- Lapsed dealer licenses or regulatory actions
None of those markers currently apply to La Mesa RV as a whole. The website shows active inventory across locations. The trade-in and sell program is running. The company’s About Us page confirms multi-state operations. That’s the opposite of a business in shutdown mode.
How to Verify a Specific La Mesa RV Location Before You Go
Because individual locations can relocate or change inventory, it’s smart to verify the specific store you’re planning to visit before making the trip.
Here’s how to do that quickly:
- Check lamesarv.com directly. The locations section lists current addresses and phone numbers. If a store has moved, the updated address should be there.
- Search the location on Google Maps. Look at recent reviews, confirmed hours, and photos. If a location is closed or relocated, Google Maps usually reflects that within a few weeks.
- Call ahead. A two-minute phone call confirms whether the dealership is open, what inventory they carry, and whether service appointments are available.
- Check the BBB listing for your state. You can see complaint history, response rates, and any licensing issues tied to a specific location.
This takes five minutes and saves you a wasted trip or a bad surprise.
Practical Advice If You’re Buying, Selling, or Servicing Through La Mesa
If you’re considering doing business with La Mesa RV, here are a few things worth keeping in mind regardless of the rumors.
Understand your warranty coverage. New RV warranties are typically backed by the manufacturer, not the dealer. If a local La Mesa store closes or moves, your manufacturer warranty stays intact. Dealer-specific coverage is a different matter read that paperwork carefully.
Know your service options. La Mesa operates multiple locations. If your nearest store relocates, another location may be able to handle service. Confirm this before you sign anything.
Read recent reviews for the specific location you’re using. A complaint about Davie, FL doesn’t necessarily reflect the Phoenix or San Diego location. Reviews vary by store, so check the one that’s relevant to you.
Get everything in writing. This applies to any dealership, not just La Mesa. Trade-in values, financing terms, delivery timelines, and included add-ons should all be documented before you commit.
For more practical guidance on evaluating businesses before you buy or invest, Tower of Business covers a range of topics that help consumers and entrepreneurs make smarter decisions.
The Bottom Line
La Mesa RV is not going out of business. The company is still operating across multiple states with active sales, service, and trade-in programs. Some individual locations have relocated or shifted their inventory focus, which can look like closures from the outside but those are operational changes, not collapse.
The negative reviews are real and worth taking seriously if you’re planning to buy. They point to customer service issues that you should factor into your decision. But service complaints and financial failure are two different things.
If you’re unsure about a specific location, check the website, call ahead, and look it up on Google Maps. That three-step check will tell you more than any online rumor.
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