By Sara Beth Williams–
A rental company established over forty years ago in Citrus Heights has closed, after rebranding just over a year ago.
Rental Guys, once known as Aba Daba Rentals, officially closed in July, according to Kerri Costarella, the daughter of the store’s former owner. Costarella currently runs Aba Daba Party Rentals.
The property formerly home to Rental Guys now sits vacant on the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Cook Avenue, surrounded by fencing. A recent visit found company signage was still visible and had not been removed. According to the Sacramento County Assessor’s office, the building was constructed in 1963.
Costarella said Aba Daba was a family-owned business that began with its first store in Sacramento in 1957 and then expanded to Citrus Heights in the 70s or 80s. The company began as an equipment rental store and later expanded into renting party supplies. Costarella said her grandfather, Gene Blackwell, owned eight stores.
Costarella said the shop would rent out “almost anything you can think of,” including tools, truck trailers, tractors, small homeowner tools, big tools, tables, chairs, linens, dishes, and more. As her grandparents aged, Costarella’s parents took over, according to the company’s website. Costarella described beginning to work for the family business by first washing dishes after they would return from events. Costarella also traveled with the family to home and garden shows and American Rental Association and American Rental Association California shows.
Aba Daba was officially sold to Rental Guys in May 2024, according to a May 3 press release in Rental Equipment Register. Costarella said Rental Guys also previously bought out Greenback Rentals. She confirmed that the company has since closed the Citrus Heights location as of July 2025, and continues to operate two other locations, one in Orangevale and one in Sacramento.
An adjacent business told The Sentinel in the beginning of August that the rental business had been reportedly closed “for months” from his observation.
Costarella said the sale of Aba Daba occurred following her grandparents’ passing and the retirement of her parents. But when Rental Guys chose not to continue renting party supplies, Costarella felt compelled to continue the party supplies side of the business.
“This is a company that is near and dear to my heart. The business thrived, and we proudly served the Sacramento area for decades,” Costarella said, adding that she bought the party rental division of the business, named it Aba Daba Party Rentals, and has since moved to a location in West Sacramento.
“It’s way different than not having the both of them; it’s an adjustment for sure,” she said, but also added that things are going well for the party rental business so far.
“It was important to me to keep part of the business in the family, and I wanted to focus on the elements that bring me so much joy: planning and organizing equipment for parties and other celebrations,” Costarella said, adding that she is also happy to see her grandfather’s and her parents’ business continue on through Rental Guys.
