Richmond Rentals has a new owner and a new location in the same building as Richmond Block and Brick on North Lee Street in Rockingham.

Tim Hawks said that he took the business over in November with the intention strengthening the local economy, but the phone number will stay the same.

“I bought the business as an added service at Richmond Block and Brick,” Hawks said. “Really, my intentions are to add newer and better equipment and keep people from having to go outside of the county for rentals. With my experience in this business, I know what people here need, I’m going to make sure that we provide it for them.”

He noted that he’s already added some inventory, such as an industrial light tower, and party supplies including an inflated jumping gym and a full-size popcorn popper.

“That light tower, there’s a lot of contractors around here that want to work at night and I was able to find a good one,” Hawks said.

Richmond Block and Brick employee Doug Goins pointed out importance of shopping locally.

“Every dollar that’s spent here, we do our best to spend it back into Richmond County,” he said.

“When it comes right down to it, we’re in hard times, and we need to help each other to get through this,” Hawks said. “We do try to keep our money in the local economy.”

Richmond Rentals is staffed by Paul Starbird, who remains with the company under new ownership, and Bennett Hawks.