History

AERO Rental was founded in 1947 by the late Thomas Mitchell Hoxie. “Mitch” had been a contractor in California, and for health reasons, moved to Tucson. His plan was to build houses in the post World War II era. With a few pieces of small equipment and three lots he purchased just east of Reid Park, he set about building his own house and two others.

Soon neighbors, who were also building their houses, began to constantly ask to borrow equipment. Then when Mitch was ready for a certain piece of equipment, he would find someone had borrowed it, and he had to go looking for it. To discourage this, he decided to hang a “For Rent” sign on the equipment so he could get on with his own work. That prompted not only the people who had been borrowing, but also those who had been hesitant to borrow, to come to him and ask “How much?” Mitch found he had to buy more mixers, wheelbarrows, etc. because his original ones were then rented when he needed them.

Finally, he decided to rent an old gas station on two-lane Speedway, across from the old El Rancho Market, and with a 12-party phone line he launched the rental industry in Tucson. In 1949, the yard was moved to 1144 North Alvernon, one-half block north of Speedway, and AERO moved into its own building. At that time AERO handled both homeowner and contractor markets.

Over the next ten years AERO added several additional locations, but more and larger equipment meant more space was needed. So in 1960, AERO purchased the property at 3808 East Golf Links Road and built what is now our main office. It was at this time that AERO decided to concentrate on the contractor trade.

AERO and Tucson have grown up together. AERO is still owned and operated by the Hoxie Family. We now have three offices – one in Phoenix, and two offices in Tucson. Our inventory ranges from gas cutoff saws to welders, air compressors, forklifts, trenchers, scissorlifts, and 40 foot towable boomlifts – and we still have concrete mixers.

In 2007, we celebrated our 60th year in business, which is a milestone for any company to achieve.  On March 3rd of 2009, we proudly accepted the award for Mitch Hoxie’s acceptance into the Rental Hall of Fame.  We proudly look back at our past and how we have grown and adapted to the changing scene of the construction industry, as well as looking forward to the service we can provide Arizona in the future.