Company at a glance
Name: Franklin EquipmentHeadquarters: Columbus, OhioProducts: Equipment sales and rental to the construction industryLocations: 19 locations in seven statesChattanooga sites: 1906 W. Polymer Dr., and new site under development at 3611 Amnicola Highway
A year after opening its first branch in Chattanooga, Franklin Equipment Rental is planning to open a second and bigger location in Chattanooga at the former Stein Construction Co., headquarters off of Amnicola Highway.
The family-owned equipment sales and rental business headquartered in Columbus, Ohio has leased the 26,458-square-foot warehouse and offices Stein vacated more than two years ago when the 105-year-old Stein construction firm shut down.
"We're exited to get another bigger space in Chattanooga, which we are calling our Chattanooga superstore," said Breanne Muncy, marketing manager for Franklin Equipment Rental. "We're continuing to expand into more markets and we tend to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by having modern showrooms with coffee and popcorn. We want people to come in, but they don't have to because we also deliver our equipment."
Franklin serves businesses ranging from major contractors down to homeowners doing.a weekend warrior project. The retailer rents and sells everything from excavators, skid-steer loaders and Skyjack aerial equipment to sod cutters, rollers and other support equipment.
Muncy said the new store will likely start with a staff of about 12 people and grow as the business expands. Franklin Equipment is leasing the building from an affiliate of the Fletcher Bright Co., which bought the structure and its 6.7-acre site five years ago for nearly $1.5 million.
Staff photo by Tim Barber/ The former Stein Construction headquarters in Chattanooga will be the new home of Franklin Equipment, a rental and sales company.The new store is expected to open in the next month or so, Muncy said.
Franklin Equipment was founded in 2008 by four partners-Gary Gabriel, Troy Gabriel, Tom Richardson, and Tony Repeta. Together, they have over 150 years of experience in the equipment and rental industry.
The Gabriel family has been in the equipment industry since 1952 when Gary's father, Sam, opened Sam's Equipment Rental,which was eventually sold to NationsRent in 1997.
The company has expanded to seven states and in Tennessee has stores in Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga, including its other local store at 1906 W. Polymer Drive near Chattanooga's airport.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340