In December 1962, Bill Jasper and John (Jack) Fitzgerald formed the J&F Corporation and began doing business as J&F Reddy Rents at 4909 Excelsior Blvd. at Quentin. The company started as a general tool rental store, and grew to rent construction equipment such as air compressors and Bobcat tractors. Success led to further expansion into rental trucks and party goods, and the building next door (4911 Excelsior Blvd.) was purchased to accommodate the latter. 
In 1976, Jack purchased a trailer rental business at 4155 Hiawatha Ave. in South Minneapolis to open his second store. In 1982 they moved into a larger facility at 4411 Hiawatha Ave. The site offers a full line of rental equipment and propane sales.
In 1989 Jack moved the company’s St. Louis Park store to a larger building at 3320 Republic Ave., and the company now concentrates on the rental of trucks, cars, trailers, and general rental equipment.
Jack passed away in 2008 after a battle with cancer but his children continue to run the business. Reddy Rents has a staff of more than 25 people who help their customers get set up with the equipment and give the advice needed to get the job done.
To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, Reddy Rents will be adding new equipment and hosting a series of events. One of the events will be a floor sanding class which will be held the second Saturday of each month at 10 am where participants will have the opportunity to use floor sanders on an actual hardwood floor. The company will also host its annual Ladies Dan in the fall of 2013. Other events will be listed on the company’s Facebook page and Web site http://reddyrents.com/ throughout the year.
Congratulations to this 50-year St. Louis Park business!