A rentable backhoe rests on a hill, overlooking Jefferson Rentals LLC, on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

KEARNEYSVILLE — Jefferson Rentals LLC celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday, during its annual community open house.

According to general manager Paul “P.J.” Dailey, Jr., the business was started in 2005. Dailey himself bought into the company six years ago, from one of the business’ three founding owners. The other two founders of the business, Mark McDonald and Thomas Spaur, have remained with the business, though they now act as silent partners.

“The founding members of this business did a lot in construction, and they knew there was not a rental company in the area, so they wanted to bring a rental company to Jefferson County. They started it as a little shop in Ranson and they grew it over the years,” Dailey said, mentioning his career background is in the corporate field. “We just keep on growing it!”

The business is anticipating a further expansion within the coming year, with the construction of a 12,000-square-foot building next door to its current store front at 412 West Burr Boulevard in Kearneysville. With the larger space, Dailey said the business will further grow its inventory of items available for rental.

As it is, the business already has an impressive inventory of items, with everything from heavy construction equipment to home cleaning gadgets to party essentials to handcrafted seating and tables to inflatables and games to luxury event tents and restrooms. Bruce Chrisman, of Charles Town, was particularly impressed to see the business’ extensive line of lawn care equipment.

Jefferson Rentals LLC general manager Paul Dailey, Jr. stands in front of a 40' x 120' high peak tension tent, set up in the field where the business' future expansion will be built. Tabitha Johnston

“I had no idea that they had all of this! The equipment’s nice — it’s well kept up. I walked around and looked at stuff that had high-use ends — I’m used to going to other rental places and not seeing that kind of stuff kept in that condition,” Chrisman said, mentioning he is a farmer and has been running a lawn care and snow removal business for the past 30 years. “My mom has wanted some edging done around her walkway. I noticed that P.J. has a bed edger here that would be perfect for what she needs. So I’m going to go talk to Mom and say, ‘Mom, if you want to finish your walkway, I know where we can get what we need.’ No place that I deal with has had it, in the past however many years.”

While Chrisman said he first visited Jefferson Rentals last week, other attendees were longtime customers of the business, including Ranson resident Denise Hockman.

“They have a little bit of everything,” Hockman said. “I have five kids and three grandkids. For their birthday parties, I have rented bouncy houses, the cotton candy machine, the slushy machine and the popcorn machine from here. My boyfriend just came in here the other day and rented a lift. So, we come in here all the time.”

According to Dailey, being a one-stop-shop for rentals is his goal for the business.

“Jefferson Rentals offers everything — we try to have something for everyone,” Dailey said. “I try to do everything a step above, including by providing superior customer service.”

Children play one of Jefferson Rentals LLC’s new inflatable games, at the open house on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

That customer service, he noted, is offered 24/7. Customers can get questions answered or make and pay for entire orders through whatever communication avenue works best for them — by calling or texting 304-728-6657, stopping by the store in-person or visiting the store’s website, www.jefferson-rentals.com.

Dailey noted that all orders are delivered and picked up by Jefferson Rentals. Customers who are inexperienced with using a particular item are thoroughly familiarized with it by the business’ employees. And if equipment fails to work properly, Jefferson Rentals will send an employee out to help address the issue, no matter the time of day or night.

The open house proved to be a success, with many established and new customers stopping by throughout the morning and afternoon.

“We’re trying to say ‘thank you’ to the customers, for coming out today,” Dailey said. “We want them to get the opportunity to learn a little more about our business, in a fun atmosphere.”

The open house featured many of the business’ rental items on display, including its inflatable bounce houses, obstacle course and carnival games, as well as its event tents, which were staged for a wedding ceremony or party. Attendees could get a clear idea of what their rental items would loos like, allowing them to plan a

Jefferson Rentals LLC open house attendees check out the interior of one tent, which was staged to look like the location of a wedding reception. Tabitha Johnston

KEARNEYSVILLE — Jefferson Rentals LLC celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday, during its annual community open house.

According to general manager Paul “P.J.” Dailey, Jr., the business was started in 2005. Dailey himself bought into the company six years ago, from one of the business’ three founding owners. The other two founders of the business, Mark McDonald and Thomas Spaur, have remained with the business, though they now act as silent partners.

“The founding members of this business did a lot in construction, and they knew there was not a rental company in the area, so they wanted to bring a rental company to Jefferson County. They started it as a little shop in Ranson and they grew it over the years,” Dailey said, mentioning his career background is in the corporate field. “We just keep on growing it!”

The business is anticipating a further expansion within the coming year, with the construction of a 12,000-square-foot building next door to its current store front at 412 West Burr Boulevard in Kearneysville. With the larger space, Dailey said the business will further grow its inventory of items available for rental.

As it is, the business already has an impressive inventory of items, with everything from heavy construction equipment to home cleaning gadgets to party essentials to handcrafted seating and tables to inflatables and games to luxury event tents and restrooms. Bruce Chrisman, of Charles Town, was particularly impressed to see the business’ extensive line of lawn care equipment.

A rentable beverage food truck, converted from a 1972 horse trailer, sits on display for open house attendees to view on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

“I had no idea that they had all of this! The equipment’s nice — it’s well kept up. I walked around and looked at stuff that had high-use ends — I’m used to going to other rental places and not seeing that kind of stuff kept in that condition,” Chrisman said, mentioning he is a farmer and has been running a lawn care and snow removal business for the past 30 years. “My mom has wanted some edging done around her walkway. I noticed that P.J. has a bed edger here that would be perfect for what she needs. So I’m going to go talk to Mom and say, ‘Mom, if you want to finish your walkway, I know where we can get what we need.’ No place that I deal with has had it, in the past however many years.”

While Chrisman said he first visited Jefferson Rentals last week, other attendees were longtime customers of the business, including Ranson resident Denise Hockman.

“They have a little bit of everything,” Hockman said. “I have five kids and three grandkids. For their birthday parties, I have rented bouncy houses, the cotton candy machine, the slushy machine and the popcorn machine from here. My boyfriend just came in here the other day and rented a lift. So, we come in here all the time.”

According to Dailey, being a one-stop-shop for rentals is his goal for the business.

“Jefferson Rentals offers everything — we try to have something for everyone,” Dailey said. “I try to do everything a step above, including by providing superior customer service.”

That customer service, he noted, is offered 24/7. Customers can get questions answered or make and pay for entire orders through whatever communication avenue works best for them — by calling or texting 304-728-6657, stopping by the store in-person or visiting the store’s website, www.jefferson-rentals.com.

Dailey noted that all orders are delivered and picked up by Jefferson Rentals. Customers who are inexperienced with using a particular item are thoroughly familiarized with it by the business’ employees. And if equipment fails to work properly, Jefferson Rentals will send an employee out to help address the issue, no matter the time of day or night.

The open house proved to be a success, with many established and new customers stopping by throughout the morning and afternoon.

“We’re trying to say ‘thank you’ to the customers, for coming out today,” Dailey said. “We want them to get the opportunity to learn a little more about our business, in a fun atmosphere.”

The open house featured many of the business’ rental items on display, including its inflatable bounce houses, obstacle course and carnival games, as well as its event tents, which were staged for a wedding ceremony or party. Attendees could get a clear idea of what their rental items would loos like, allowing them to plan ahead for how to decorate them or even upgrade what they were renting, if something more appealing caught their eye.

“There’s always new equipment here, which is one of the reasons why we do this open house every year,” Dailey said. “There’s so many new things that we have added. And every few years, we upgrade everything.”

Along with learning more about the business and trying out some of the rentals, attendees were able to enjoy grilled hotdogs and hamburgers with all of the trimmings. Door prizes for various machine rentals and a raffle of a STIHL product were also offered at the event.

head for how to decorate them or even upgrade what they were renting, if something more appealing caught their eye.

“There’s always new equipment here, which is one of the reasons why we do this open house every year,” Dailey said. “There’s so many new things that we have added. And every few years, we upgrade everything.”

Along with learning more about the business and trying out some of the rentals, attendees were able to enjoy grilled hotdogs and hamburgers with all of the trimmings. Door prizes for various machine rentals and a raffle of a STIHL product were also offered at the event.