During its second decade, Enterprise continued to grow, expanding beyond its hometown St. Louis roots and beyond its core car rental and leasing business. Focusing on neighborhood locations and the needs of local renters, the company opened offices in Kansas City, Atlanta, Houston and key markets in Florida – in fact, it was in Orlando that an entrepreneurial manager pioneered our trademark “We’ll pick you up” service which was quickly adopted throughout our operations.

After surviving the energy crisis and its lingering effects on the auto business, the company sought ways to diversify into non-automotive areas – acquiring a hotel/motel in-room coffee service operation and a Mexican food business.

Here are some highlights from this decade.

1968

-Annual revenue exceeds $1.5 million

1969

-Over 5,000 lease units in service

-Company expands beyond Louis as Enterprise Leasing

-Company expands into Atlanta

1970

-Over 500 rental cars in service

1971

-Company expands into Orlando

1972

-Now-famous trademark “We’ll pick you up” tradition begins in Orlando

-Company expands into Kansas City and Tampa

1973

-More than 1,000 rental units in service

-Company expands into Houston

1974

-Company expands into Jacksonville

-Keefe Coffee acquired

1976

-Annual revenue approaches $15 million

1977

-Over 10,000 lease units in service

-Total assets exceed $50 million

-Mexican Inn Chili Products acquired