The business was founded in December 1965 by Charles Barron Sr. who had been chief accountant at General Time. Charles Sr. wanted to pursue a dream of running his own business.

Barron started his enterprise as an A to Z Rental on Baxter Street with one full-time employee. Customers were primarily home owners and do-it-yourselfers. In 1969, Barron's dropped his contract with A to Z and changed the name of his business to Barron's Rental Center.

Charles Barron Sr. and Charlie Barron Jr.

Barron's continued to grow and change through the years. In 1982, Charlie Barron Jr., who had worked at the store since he was a young boy, came into the business as a full-time employee. It was his dream to add full-service party and event rentals in order to meet the growing demands of the Northeast Georgia area. Another change occurred in 1988 when Charlie Barron Jr. bought the company. Barron's is now located on Hawthorne Avenue, employs 10 people and is fully computerized. Even Charlie's children, the third generation, enjoy helping out at the store.

Barron's Rental Center also has developed a much more diverse clientele, including contractors, industrial interests, caterers and event planners. Charlie Barron Jr. attributes the company's growth to their ability to keep up with technology by offering customers the latest trends in rental services.

"Our customers range from construction companies needing trenchers to Athens' hosts wanting China and silver to entertain 300 of their closest friends," said Charlie Barron Jr.