About

Our Story

General Equipment Rental was founded in 1995 by Grace and Bernie Conrad, and the idea began during a home renovation. While restoring a turn-of-the-century house in Western North Carolina, they discovered that the nearest rental store was twenty minutes away. After repeated trips across town, they realized the area needed a local equipment rental option—so they built one.

They opened a small storefront with a simple goal: to provide the right tools, dependable equipment, and a straightforward experience for people trying to get a job done.

For many years, the business was run by Grace and their son-in-law, Craig, along with a single mechanic, serving local homeowners, contractors, and small businesses. As Western North Carolina grew, demand for rental equipment grew as well. In the early 2000s, General Equipment Rental moved to its current location, allowing the company to expand and better serve Weaverville, Asheville, and the surrounding communities.

Today, the company employs a team of 15, including several employees who have been with it for more than two decades. Grace and Bernie are now retired, but the business remains family-owned and operated by their daughter, Erika, and former son-in-law, Craig, along with other family members.

General Equipment Rental provides a wide range of equipment—from earthmoving and aerial lifts to concrete tools, generators, lawn equipment, pressure washers, and material handling equipment.



We’re still here for the same reason we started: to make it easier for people to get the job done.