Eastside Rental & Equipment actually started out in the 1950’s as a branch of the Tool Crib, then the predominate equipment rental store in the Seattle area. In 1958 Howard and Bob Anderson, with financial help from their older brother, Art Anderson, bought out the Tool Crib’s interest in the Eastside branch; hence to this day our official corporate name is Tool Crib of the Eastside, doing business as Eastside Rental & Equipment.
In the 1960’s Howard and Bob started a branch in Redmond. They later split up, and on the flip of a coin Howard ended up with the original Bellevue store, and Bob got the Redmond store. The Redmond store has since been sold to a national chain.
Howard began what we like to call an “evolving” retirement in the 1980’s. His youngest son, Tim, already worked at the business, and Howard convinced his two oldest sons, Greg and Doug, to return. After decades of seriously hard work, Howard finally got the chance to travel the world, putter in his garden and advise everyone he met on how to save their money.
Greg and Doug bought out Tim’s interest in the business in 2000 and have been running the company ever since. Most of Howard’s grandchildren, who all worked in the business as kids, have embarked on their own careers in other fields; however, Doug’s oldest son, Matt, presently is parts and inventory manager at Eastside Rental.
That is why 2008 is meaningful to our family. We don’t think too many businesses can say they’ve been family-owned in one location for 50 years in Bellevue, Washington. And we have our loyal customers to thank for that honor. |
