Bekins Van Lines, Inc. is an American domestic and international private and corporate household goods
relocation service
Relocation services, employee relocation, military permanent change of station (PCS) or workforce mobility include a range of internal business processes to transfer employees, their families, and/or entire departments of a business to a new loc ...
provider.
Headquartered in
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
, Bekins also offers special commodities and logistic services.
The
United States Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...
is one of Bekins' largest customers.
History
In 1891, in
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, Woodbury and Plymouth County, Iowa, Plymouth counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Iowa, fo ...
, John Bekius and Martin (né Bekius) Bekins, brothers, started a furniture moving business.
In 1894, Martin Bekins brought the Bekins business to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
.
In 1927, he built his
Eagle Rock, Los Angeles
Eagle Rock is a neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, abutting the San Rafael Hills in Los Angeles County, California.
The community is named after Eagle Rock, a large boulder whose shadow resembles an eagle.http://www.eaglerockcouncil.org/i ...
estate.
Bekins was purchased by Minstar Inc., controlled by
Irwin L. Jacobs
Irwin L. Jacobs (July 15, 1941 – c. April 10, 2019) was an American businessman. He was the CEO of several large corporations, including the boat-building company Genmar Holdings. He earned the nickname "Irv the Liquidator" for his aggressive ...
, for $89.2 million in 1983. In 1987, Bekins' management team, led by president Thomas E. Epley, purchased 60% of the company for $66 million. Jacobs re-acquired Bekins through IMR Fund L.P. in January, 1993.
Operation
In 2009, the company had over 300 locations and a fleet of over 2,100 vehicles.
The company also owns warehouse space that exceeds four million square feet.
Bekins was acquired by
Wheaton World Wide Moving
Wheaton World Wide Moving is a moving and storage company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, with more than 250 authorized agents.
It handles household moving, corporate relocation, international shipping, military and government relocation and spec ...
in 2012.
After the acquisition, the Bekins Van Lines brand name continued to be used as a separate brand.
It is the oldest, currently operating, household moving, company in the United States.
It is one of the largest moving companies in North America.
In Movie
A Los Angeles California Bekins moving and Storage Truck is one of the Landmarks used in the 1936 Columbia pictures Short "False Alarms" starring the Three Stooges.
See also
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Bekins Storage Co. roof sign
*
Richard Bekins
Richard Bekins (born July 17, 1954) is an American actor in theater, film, and television.
One of his earliest roles was as Jamie Frame in the daytime soap opera '' Another World'' (1979–1983).
He has made numerous guest appearances on telev ...
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bekins Company
Agent-owned companies
Companies based in Indianapolis
Cooperatives based in Indiana
Moving companies of the United States