Whether you know it or not, you’ve likely seen the work of American Companies, Inc! For the past 30 years, owner Gale Holsman and his team have provided street, parking lot, and event clean up services across the Kansas City area, including at Chiefs and Royals games, the Country Club Plaza, and even our own Irishpalooza parade.
Holsman recently purchased 18 acres between Blue Ridge Boulevard and 135th Street, immediately east of the railroad tracks over Holmes Road. The property had been sitting vacant for almost 20 years and now Holsman said he plans to invest $700K to transform the property it into a storage and equipment rehab facility.
“We’ve been looking for a place to expand, and the property in Martin City was the right place at the right time for us,” said Holsman. “We plan to fix it up, keep it neat and organized, and turn it into something Martin City can be proud of.”
In the early 1980s, Holsman was working for a national municipal solid waste company as a rear load garbage operator. When he learned sweeper trucks could vacuum trash off streets, he immediately saw a business opportunity.
“I realized I didn’t want a job where I was a number – someone who nobody would notice if I was there or not,” said Holsman. “I bought my first truck, figured out how to work it, and the rest is history.”
At first, Holsman swept parking lots for free and left a note on the door that he had cleaned their lot. Eventually, managers started calling him when they noticed their lots hadn’t been cleaned for a few weeks! The business took off and soon had over 20 sweeper trucks and clients all over Kansas City.
His favorite memory came when he was cleaning the Royals’ parking lot after the World Series victory in 1985. Good Morning America was setting up for a live remote when a limo pulled up at 4 AM and Royals pitcher Brett Saberhagen emerged.
“He introduced himself and said, ‘I’ve been watching you sweep all season. Can I ride around with you so I can get away before I’m on TV?’ I said, ‘Sure, get in!” and before I knew it I was doing circles in J Lot with the World Series MVP.”
Today, the company includes five divisions specializing in parking lot sweeping, roll-off dumpsters, portable toilets, asphalt repair, and event stage rental.
Work is already underway on the Martin City property, including removing debris, painting the front building, and turning on the electricity. Future plans include retrofitting the other four buildings, adding an access road off Blue Ridge Boulevard, and possibly much more!
“Martin City is a perfect location for us because it’s right in the middle of where we do business, with easy access to the rest of Kansas City,” said Holsman. “This community has become family for us, and we are considering moving the entire company here someday.”
We are proud to now have American Companies, Inc. in Martin City, and look forward to partnering with them more in the future. To learn about their services, visit their website or call (816) 966-1161.