Growing up whenever someone would ask me what my parent’s business was, I always received the return question of “what is rebar?” My parents own a local business called Northern Nevada Rebar. It is their livelihood and I have watched them go through the challenges and opportunities of being business owners in Reno.
When I was kid, I never understood what it meant to own a local business. I didn’t understand what my parents experienced day in and day out. As I have grown up, I have learned more and more about Reno and how my parents have managed their business through changing times.
My parents moved to Reno from Vegas when my dad got a job transfer to help build the Silver Legacy. There was a flood in 1997 that forced my dad’s company to move back to Vegas which prompted him to open up his own rebar company.
I always enjoyed the days that my mom would take me to NNR because I knew that I would be able to play on the computers and use my mom's red stamps. I distinctly remember my dad would come home with large stacks of rebar plans that he would read at the dinner table late at night.
Ed Doyle, my dad, stands next to a steel machine intended to cut and bend pieces of rebar. This photo was taken in November of 2006. Photo provided by Billie Doyle.
Rebar essentially is a steel bar which has a main purpose of helping prevent concrete from cracking and helps to strengthen foundations. It is put in place before concrete is poured and is often found in buildings, bridges, and other types of structures.
There are several different sizes and types of rebar. Concrete when poured without the presence of rebar is prone to cracking which is very dangerous considering the concrete blocks can then move. There is a long life span on rebar. It can normally last from 50-100 years depending on how it was fabricated and manufactured.
The delivery of rebar from NNR is transported throughout northern Nevada and California.
Cages of rebar are lifted from a forklift onto a NNR tractor trailer to be transported to a job site. Photo provided by Billie Doyle.
NNR has done several job sites for the community that have included public schools, UNR buildings, car dealerships, and warehouses.
Recently I talked to my parents about the growth of Reno and what it is like to be a Reno business owner in 2022 especially after COVID-19. The pandemic brought many challenges considering there was a shortage of workers and social distancing was required on job sites.
There are about 50 people employed at NNR. This includes office, shop and union employees. Depending on the season, the number of employees ranges from 50 to 80.
Now coming out of the pandemic, there is increased growth in Reno which means an increase in competition and a decrease in material availability. There are also shortages in workforce and labor.
A recent opportunity as of right now is the high demand for the fabrication and manufacturing of rebar which allows NNR to stay busy with new jobs.
Inflation has affected the production of rebar considering the price of material has doubled immensely. My parents have watched Reno grow more and more throughout the years especially with the recent local development of large companies such as Google, Tesla, and Apple.
“Growth is inevitable but with growth comes demand for housing,” my mother tells me. My parents feel that Reno doesn’t have the adequate infrastructure for the amount of people moving here.
Being a business owner in Reno in 2022 comes with many challenges as well as advantages. My parents advocate for being involved in the community and remaining 100% local.