Another retailer achieves a major milestone

During a year that saw Dollar General open its 10,000th store and AutoZone opens its 5,000th store, rent-to-own retailer Aaron’s has opened its 2,000th location.

The Atlanta-based retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, designated a store in the Bronx, New York as its 2,000th location.

"Aaron's has experienced tremendous growth over the past three years including the addition of 345 stores, 2,200 jobs and record quarterly results," said Ronald W. Allen, CEO and president of Aaron’s. "We are pleased to extend this success into the Bronx, where we’re excited to become an integral part of the community.　Over the next few years, it’s our plan to foster economic development in the New York market with more store openings, bringing new job and partnership opportunities to the area.　 We’re proud to become a new member of the Bronx community and are confident our presence here will have a permanent and positive impact through services offered, partnerships developed and charitable outreach."

Given the location in a community synonymous with baseball, Aaron’s enlisted the aid of legendary baseball player, manager and Major League Baseball's EVP of baseball operations, Joe Torre, to make an appearance an unveil a specially commissioned portrait of Babe Ruth. Aaron’s donated the portrait to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and a replica will be hung in the store.

Aaron’s was founded in 1955 by Atlanta entrepreneur Charlie Loudermilk and a partner who borrowed $500 to purchase folding chairs they began renting to local auction houses. The Company became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1982 and was renamed Aaron's, Inc. in 2009.