New owners will expand Sisters Rental

The new owners of Sisters Rental are integrating two local businesses into a new partnership. Longtime friends Pat Thompson, Rod Robinson and Mike Owen have taken hold of the reins, steering a well-established business that was started 14 years ago by previous owners Rod and Connie Morris.

The business specializes in providing both storage facilities and equipment rental. It offers its services to contractors and homeowners in the Sisters area. It was acquired July 1 by local construction business owners Rod Robinson and Mike Owen in a partnership with Pat Thompson, who lends his background to retail business and land development.

The partnership is called Pine Street Rentals.

Rod Robinson and Mike Owen have owned and operated Robinson & Owen Construction together for 12 years, with about eight years prior experience in the construction field. Both have lived in the Sisters area with their families for 20 years.

Pat Thompson, operating manager of the newly acquired business, who moved to Sisters two years ago from Burns, facilitated the assimilation of the Sisters Rental and Robinson & Owen Construction ventures.

The partners agreed that, "we don't expect to make many changes to a well-established and well-run business."

There may not be many changes in the character of the business, but the partners do plan to offer more of what Sisters Rental does best.

There will be a large addition to the amount of storage units available. The new owners will also offer the full line of products and supplies accessible through the U-Haul moving company.

The partners' heavy construction capabilities will allow for the rental of larger equipment.

They also plan to add event equipment, canopies and a public address system.

"Lots of expansion is expected," said Thompson.

The number of employees will also grow. The partners will merge the eight employees of Sisters Rental with the 27 employees of Robinson & Owen Construction. The partners stress the importance of their employees as a "big part" in operating and running each company admirably and efficiently.

"We've all been active in the community for years in business, Little League, Starry Nights. ... We want the community members to know that we're here for the long haul," said Mike Owen.

All three business operators expect the two companies to do very well together and are thrilled about future expansion.

"We want people to know that they can stop in and greet the new owners and see the large support for the community that we have," said Thompson.