Rhoads Energy Announces Move to New Headquarters
The Rhoads Energy Family of Companies has been serving the region for more than 100 years. Now, the energy provider is set to celebrate the latest chapter in its long history.
Rhoads announced today it will move to a new flagship location in the City of Lancaster by the end of 2019. The company will move all personnel from its current location on South Prince Street to a nearby building at 205 Hazel Street.
Through Rhoads Energy and other brands, the company provides heating fuels, HVAC and fleet fueling services in Central Pennsylvania.
Rhoads purchased the Hazel Street property in 2015 and has finalized plans to renovate the interior and exterior. Interior demolition at Hazel Street has already begun. Plans call for the contractor, Brownstown-based Benchmark Construction, to complete renovations by Nov. 30.
The company will officially start construction with a special “Blockbuster” Groundbreaking Event that will feature CEO Michael DeBerdine, III, kicking off renovations with the help of a sledgehammer and a cinder block wall.
Once renovations are complete, the new building will offer 16,000 square feet, enough to accommodate the 20 employees at the current headquarters and future hires.
Among the key additions at Hazel Street:
- A hands-on training facility will provide space for equipment training for the company’s HVAC technicians
- A new display room will offer customers a showcase of products: tankless hot water heaters, hearth products, and more
- New conference space will provide an area for company-wide meetings and classroom training – and will be made available for community use
- A garage expansion will add four new bays to the property
“This move will enable Rhoads to capitalize on opportunities for growth while remaining a community-based company in the heart of Lancaster,” said CEO Michael DeBerdine, III. “Any project like this requires collaboration, and we are truly grateful for the cooperation we received from the City of Lancaster and from our other partners.”
Rhoads worked with civil engineer ELA Group Inc., based in Lititz, and Richard R. Mula Architects, based in Lancaster, to redevelop the site.
Rhoads Energy’s current building, at 205 Hazel Street, was built on a reclaimed brownfields site that spurred additional commercial development in the south corridor of Lancaster. With the Hazel Street renovation, Rhoads will once again embrace an opportunity to rehabilitate an aging, underutilized property in Lancaster City.
The company plans to sell its 9,000-square-foot South Prince Street building and has already listed the property.
The Hazel Street project is the latest step in a period of sustained growth for the Rhoads Energy Family of Companies. Over the past decade, Rhoads has expanded its regional footprint, added a thriving propane division, increased its workforce and celebrated its 100th anniversary serving the community.
