A family affair: Dual father and son businesses offer equipment repairs and rentals

[July 06, 2009]  Perry and Brandon Winebrinner sat down at a table in their twin businesses at 230 N. Chicago to talk. Both are trying to fill a niche in the community that is underserved or lacking, and both have high hopes their enterprises will allow them to make a living.

Perry, who is 48, operates a repair shop at the location under the name Heartland Industrial, and he works on light industrial equipment, including forklifts and backhoes. He has found a good business working on golf carts as well, and the row of carts outside the business proves that.

Perry's entire life has been working with industrial equipment. Starting out of high school, he has worked on industrial equipment at other local businesses until he decided four years ago to go out on his own.

Brandon has just opened up his new rental business, named Chicago Street Rentals, in the front of the repair shop. Brandon, who helped his dad with the repair business for the past four years, always wanted to open a rental place, and when Logan County Rental closed its doors, he felt it was time to act on his dream.

The two, located in the same building, help each other out when a second pair of hands is needed or someone has to make a delivery or pickup. This father-son teamwork is evident at the twin businesses when customers call or stop in.

Perry mentioned that parts for industrial equipment are not readily available locally, and he is filling that need when quick parts replacement is essential to a business. He also makes hoses and fittings on-site, which helps keep important equipment on the job when downtime can hurt a company's work schedule.

Brandon has begun gathering power tools, sanders, concrete saws and other equipment to rent, and he is willing to fill the needs the community requires. If he gets multiple calls for some type of tool, he will stock that tool. Although Brandon knows the majority of his clients will be contractors and homeowners, he can see his business expanding to include party supplies. Tables, chairs, tubs for ice and even large amounts of dinnerware and silverware might make his businesses shelves if there is enough interest from clients.

It is obvious that this father and son team gets along well, and they invite the community to stop in and visit their businesses. Whichever service you need, repair or rental, either one or both will be happy to help.

The phone number for Heartland Industrial is 651-8051. For Chicago Street Rentals, call 737-6081.

[By MIKE FAK]