[June 30, 2021]      

On Saturday Rent One in Lincoln celebrated its new location at 910 Woodlawn Road in Lincoln.

It was a well-planned day with plenty of activities to attract the community including vehicles on display by the Railsplitter Antique Auto Club and a corn dog stand outside the front door of the new store.
 

Inside there were beverages and snacks, and staff to show off the many new items now offered by the business.

However, severe weather took its toll on the event, as it did several other activities in the area. Assistant Manager Roger Matson said that the day started off pretty well, but when the heavy rain came just at noon everything came to a stop.

Nonetheless, the staff is excited about sharing their offerings with future events that will be hosted at the new store. With a larger parking area there is plenty of room to have outside activities and Matson said the car club has been invited to come back again some other time this summer. There are also plans to host some fundraising events for local organizations.

 

Inside the store, Matson was also excited about the larger variety of items now offered by Rent One. Some of the items he enjoyed showing off was a really wild looking stereo system. The large bank of speakers comes with flashing lights and blue-tooth connectivity. Showing off the volume features, he said, the system could fill any size area with excellent sound.

 

Other items that the store is now carrying include gun cases, camping and picnic gear. A slim-line gun case that has a digital entry system and can be bolted to the floor for security was featured next to a cooler that of all things, has blue-tooth connectivity and speakers built into the lid.

 

One of Matson’s favorite new gadgets offered by the store is an electric bike that he couldn’t resist demonstrating.

 

The new location still offers all the items that customers have come to expect from the store, but perhaps with a greater variety of items to choose from. Sofas, chairs, occasional tables, televisions, dinning sets, Washer dryer sets, refrigerators, freezers, bedroom sets and box spring and mattress sets are all available.

 

Rent one is a rent-to-own store that offers a number of options for securing new or used furnishings. Shoppers have the option to purchase furniture outright, rent temporary items on a weekly or monthly basis, or purchase over time with a rent-to-own contract.

Matson has been in the rent-to-own business for the past several years. He began as the manager of the Action Rentals in the downtown area of Lincoln. Action then changed ownership in 2011, becoming National Rent to Own. The store remained in the downtown area but in 2020 changed ownership again, becoming Rent One. Matson remains with the company, but has chosen to step back just a little bit. He is now the assistant manager of the new store and Chris Bruce is the store’s manager.

Soon after the change in ownership, it was announced that the company had purchased the former Alexander Lumber (previously Newhouse Lumber) on Woodlawn and would be moving from the downtown area in 2021.

An extensive remodel of the new location took place and the company divided off one section of the building that will be offered as a rental for hopefully a new business in Lincoln someday.

Matson likes the changes that have come with the new company. He says that Rent One is community oriented and looks forward to supporting local organizations. He notes that the store has offered support already to the local D.A.R.E. program.

 

Rent One has also donated a battery operated rocket scooter to the Friends and Family Relay Team for the American Cancer Society. The scooter is being raffled off by the team with the drawing for the awesome kid’s toy to take place just before Christmas in December.