Locals flocked to see the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine, the Wonder car from the popular movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and the Dallas Desperado Dancers.

Aaron’s 1500th grand opening in Mansfield, Texas.  See a complete photo gallery here.

Aaron’s 1500th grand opening in Mansfield, Texas was by any measure a complete success. Alongside their ranking as number one division, number one region and number one store, Aaron’s Mid American Operations group can now add the Mansfield store as the number one grand opening.



Locals flocked to see the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine, the Wonder car from the popular movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and the Dallas Desperado Dancers. The expertly choreographed event drew an estimated 700 people and grew the store’s customer count by 45% since its soft-opening two weeks ago. The 8,000-square foot Mansfield store is Aaron’s newest design prototype.

Reflection in the Tuba of the Mansfield High School Marching Band as they performed at Aaron’s 1500th grand opening in Mansfield, Texas.

Charlie Loudermilk, Chairman and CEO of Aaron Rents (RNT) (RNT), who founded the company in 1955 with an inventory of 300 folding chairs, addressed the crowd before the ribbon cutting. “I’ve been to plenty of grand openings over the years, but even I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” he said.



Loudermilk was joined at the ribbon cutting by Mark Rudnick, Vice President of Marketing, and Bert Hanson, Vice President for Mid-American Operations, several Mansfield officials including Mayor Barton Scott and Mayor ProTem Michael McSpadden along with representatives from the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.



“We are really proud of the efforts of the entire Aaron’s team who put this special event together. This is absolutely our biggest and our best grand opening ever,” said Mark Rudnick.



Rudnick said Aaron’s views sports partnerships as a key part of the company’s program. “We try to integrate sports marketing into all of our local marketing efforts,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate to have quality partners like Michael Waltrip, David Reutimann, professional angler Janet Parker and sprint car driver Justin Melton. We love having them represent Aarons. Our employees and our customers are proud to be associated with them.”



Aaron’s used the occasion of its 1500th store opening to highlight the company’s ACORP program. Through ACORP, Aaron’s provides stores with funds that can be donated to needy organizations in the stores’ local markets. Aaron’s presented three Mansfield organizations with $1500 donations as part of the day’s ceremony. The Mansfield Fire Department, the Mansfield Police Academy Citizens Alumni Association, and the Mansfield Legacy Marching Band were each presented a $1500 check by Bert Hanson.



To an observer, the company may bear little resemblance to the 1950s version - but Loudermilk sees it differently. “Practically everything’s the same,” he said. “Satisfy the customer with a quality product at a fair price and treat your customers and your employees fairly.”

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