A To Z Equipment Rentals & Sales Expands Gilbert, Ariz., Location

July 22, 2009
A to Z Equipment Rentals and Sales last week announced it has broken ground on a major expansion to its East Valley location in Gilbert, Ariz.

A to Z Equipment Rentals and Sales last week announced it has broken ground on a major expansion to its East Valley location in Gilbert, Ariz.

When asked why he chose to begin a very significant expansion in the current uncertain economic clime, Fred Matricardi, A to Z founder and general manager said: “We have been planning this for five years — we ran out of room about two years ago. Now we have a building permit, the financing is secured, we can find subcontractors anxious to go to work and costs are lower. We will need this expansion desperately once the economy recovers, and at that time we would have a difficult time trying to do it. So now is the perfect time to build.”

The new facility will include a 55,000-square-foot building with one drive-through lane, and a 30,000-square-foot breezeway with three additional drive-through lanes. These drive-through lanes, which run completely through the building, are a signature feature at A to Z Equipment Rentals and Sales, allowing customers to drive into the building to pick up or drop off equipment, out of the elements.

The expansion will house a large sales and rental equipment showroom, warehousing, offices, equipment service and storage areas. The company’s executive and administrative offices, currently located in Phoenix, will also move to the new Gilbert building, as will the purchasing and shipping/receiving departments.

About 20 A to Z employees will make the move from Phoenix to the new Gilbert offices, and Matricardi said he expects to hire at least 10 more technicians and customer service staff after the building opens in May 2010, just in time for the company’s 50th anniversary.

The expansion of the East Valley location, which was opened in 2000, has been in the planning and approval stages since 2004. The architect is Barbes, Bidanjiri & Associates, and the general contractor is Colton Constructors, which has built each of the three A to Z locations.