Meathead Movers - The Early Days

San Luis Obispo, circa 1999–2000

This photo was taken around 1999 or 2000, about two or three years into the business. We’re standing in front of my tiny studio apartment on Johnson Street in San Luis Obispo. That little place was the headquarters for Meathead Movers back in the day.

I think the rent was about $675 a month, and I had to pay it in cash to my neighbor who lived just a few doors down. The phone number on the banner didn’t go to an office—it went to my pager.

When someone needed help moving, they would page me, and I’d call them back whenever I could. Sometimes that meant finding a payphone if I wasn’t at home or at a friend’s house.

The Early Team

At the time, I was wrestling at Cuesta College, and my brother Evan had just graduated. Most of the guys in this photo were football players or wrestlers from Cuesta College or Cal Poly, along with a few of my high school friends.

They were strong, dependable, and willing to work hard. Back then, we didn’t even have a set pricing system. Customers would simply pay us whatever they thought we were worth.

How a Move Worked Back Then

My friends—who were also my employees—would come by my studio to pick up the paperwork for the job. Then they’d meet the customer at their house, where the customer usually had a rented U-Haul or Ryder truck waiting. Our job was simply to load or unload it.

After the move was done, we’d all meet up later, usually at Firestone Grill in downtown San Luis Obispo. We’d sit down, eat some food, do the paperwork, and talk about how the day went. Those evenings were some of the best parts of the job.

Where “Jogging Movers” Started

It was also during those early days that the idea of jogging when we weren’t carrying anything started. We noticed a few things right away. Customers loved it. It helped us finish moves faster. And it often resulted in better tips. At the same time, it kept us in great shape for wrestling matches and football season. What started as a simple habit became part of our identity.

Looking Back

Looking back at this photo now, it’s humbling to see how far Meathead Movers has come. From a pager number and a studio apartment to a company serving thousands of customers across California. But what makes me the most proud is that the core of the company is still the same. We still hire athletes. We still work hard. We still try to “stoke out” our customers. And we still believe that grit, integrity, and caring about people will take you a long way.

The Belief That Started It All

In business and in life, we’ve tried to stay grounded in a simple belief: If you do right by your employees and your customers, things tend to work out in the end. And it all started right here.

-Aaron Steed

Today at our HQ in San Luis Obispo