Centennial, CO, January 27, 2025. Johnson Storage & Moving, headquartered here, announced its 125th year in business as one of Denver’s oldest privately held companies.
Johnson’s started in 1900 in Will Johnson’s blacksmith’s shop in downtown Denver. That location remains operational and Johnson’s stores fine art there as part of its J-Art business. Johnson’s has grown in recent years to become one of the largest and most diverse logistics/moving & storage businesses in the West, with 20 locations in 11 states and internationally. The Company has diversified its revenues and today operates businesses in logistics, trucking, supply chain management, office furniture, international freight forwarding, and office & industrial relocation. Johnson’s occupies in excess of 1M square feet of warehouse space and runs 150 trucks that drive 1M miles a year.
Fourth generation family members Mark and Jim Johnson remain active in the business, which is managed day-to-day by President & CEO Don Hindman. “It’s been an honor to help carry on our 125 year legacy of outstanding customer service – here’s to the next 125!” said Hindman.
The Company is planning several events to commemorate its rich history, part of which is summed-up in this quote from Mark Johnson:
“Today marks the 125th anniversary of the Johnson Storage and Moving Company. We were founded at 221 Broadway in Denver, still one of our sites.
While I’m just a tad too young to have been there, I’m told that on January 1st, 1900 that the family was eating their lunch meal in the residence on the second floor of the building which housed the Johnson Blacksmith shop. They had been living there since 1897. Broadway was paved only as far south at Alameda in those days.
They heard a “funny noise” on Broadway and quickly went outside to see the cause of commotion and there were two Stanley Steamer automobiles going south. The family was all excited to have seen these “new contraptions”. William (my granddad) was not. He was pensive. That was understandable. The cars, which were driven by two of his customers (for horse shoeing and wagon repair) were not good news for his financial future.
The following morning, January 2nd, 1900, he made the announcement at breakfast that he was going to diversify his business and start storing and transporting baggage and steamer trunks for his upscale clientele to and from Denver Union Station.
For the next decade, the firm continued to build wagons and shoe horses as the emphasis became ever greater focused on the warehouse and transport business. William prospered as a mover and became one of the founders of Allied Van Lines in 1928. Two of his sons, Lou and Raymond (Jim’s and my Grandfather) subsequently became founders of the agent owned United Van Lines Company in 1947. Lou, Raymond, Jim’s and my Father Don and myself all served on the Board of Directors of United Van Lines as does Don Hindman, our firm’s current CEO, today.
I’m confident that the Founder and our earlier generations would be very proud of our $125M plus enterprise with 20 locations.”
For additional information, please contact Don Hindman at [email protected].
