Former Sam’s Equipment Rental Owner Growing New Rental Business

Gary Gabriel, former owner of Columbus, Ohio-based Sam’s Equipment Rental, the first rental company to be acquired in 1997 by roll-up NationsRent, recently returned to the rental business and is now expanding into a second Ohio location, according to Columbus Business First.

Gabriel and three business partners last year acquired Franklin Tractor Sales, a former New Holland dealership and, while continuing the dealership activities, are growing the rental part of the business. The partners changed the company name to Franklin Equipment.

Sam’s Equipment Rental was one of the leading rental companies in Ohio when it was the first of more than 60 companies acquired by Nations Rent, which itself was acquired by Sunbelt Rentals in 2007. Gabriel remained with NationsRent through the acquisition by Sunbelt.