Rental Works

LOCATION ESTABLISHED OWNER(S)
5044 Langston Boulevard 1987 Kip Vaile

Rental Works, founded by Kip Vaile, is located in one of Langston Boulevard’s mid-century shopping centers, where it has been operating since 1987. If you live near the corridor and have hosted an event or worked on your home, chances are you have interacted with one of the Vaile family members who own the business. 

Kip says that he never imagined owning his own business much less a tool rental business, but life has a way of taking us on an adventure. Kip's adventure was driven by his faith in God and relationships. This part of his adventure began by connecting him with Bruce Scott who owns Scott Long Construction Co. Bruce became like a father to Kip and he asked Kip to start a tool rental division as a profit center for the company. Kip built this up over a period of three years and it became quite successful. Then in late 1985, a friend connected Kip with Ken Wagner who owned a tool rental business in Annapolis Maryland. This friendship grew and resulted in a business partnership that became known as Rental Works Arlington. But why the name Rental Works? Well in 1986, Ken brought together a number of friends who planned on starting tool rental businesses. They came together many times to discuss the rental stores they each planned to open, and even talked about names. They all got very excited about the name Rental Works, and made the unorthodox decision for all to use this name. The first Rental Works was Kip’s store he opened in Arlington, but soon, there were stores in Annapolis, Richmond, and years later in Greensboro, NC. There is no legal tie between the businesses, but the group of friends share the same views on faith, family, and business, and strive to provide honest service to their customers. So, they decided to share the name; they consider it a family name. By the way - all of these families have stayed connected over the years, with their kids growing up together.

Kip and his wife Gay started Rental Works with Ken Wagner and one other partner and bought them both out after a few years of success. Initially, they rented everything from fine china to popcorn and cotton candy machines to construction equipment. Through the years, the company refocused on garden and landscaping equipment, home construction, maintenance and repair equipment, and event supplies like tables and chairs. Kip also states that the customer base has changed. Where they used to see fifty percent residential and fifty percent commercial customers, they now are around seventy percent commercial. A more serious change hit closer to home as Kip ran into some health issues last year. Fortunately, his son Josh came in to help out.

Raised in Arlington, Josh grew up in the store but only worked there occasionally. Although they would help out when needed, he, his brothers Jared and Jon Marshall, and many of their friends thought of the business as their playground or hang-out spot. Josh never considered the possibility of taking over but decided to pause his freelance film career to be there to help his dad. Working in the business during this time will also allow him to see if he is interested in continuing to the next generation of ownership. We say, “fingers crossed.”

Kip and Josh say that Rental Works has been much more than a business. It’s also been a community hub, where local friends and longtime customers come in and visit for hours. Kip says that his dream was to create a safe place for his sons and their friends to hang out around him. He watched them grow up in the store, which meant the world to him. Dream fulfilled. He also says that, after forty years, the business has made him the man he is today, so, in a way, he grew up there, too.

Photo Gallery

All images © Cindy Kane Photography

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