UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                     February 15, 2000 (February 14, 2000)
                     ------------------------------------
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                                 Rent-Way, Inc.
                                 --------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


      Pennsylvania                   000-22026                    25-1407782
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 (State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
               of corporation)                               Identification No.)



One RentWay Place, Erie, Pennsylvania         16505
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(Address of principal executive offices)     Zip Code



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:        (814) 455-5378
                                                     --------------------------





Item 5.           Other Events
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The registrant issued the following press release on February 14, 2000:

     ERIE,  PA. --  Rent-Way,  Inc.  (NYSE:  RWY)  announced  today  that it has
significantly  expanded its previously  announced new store opening program. "We
have already  signed 20 new store  leases this quarter and are now  committed to
the  strategic  goal of adding 400 new stores over the next 3 to 4 years."  said
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, William E. Morgenstern.

     The  company  believes  its  existing  base of almost  1,100  stores can be
strengthened  by  adding  new  stores  in under  served  markets.  In  addition,
extensive  efforts are in process to identify  potential  store sites in markets
not currently served by Rent-Way.

     "We intend to follow the same basic  principles  we used to convert  nearly
1,000  acquired  stores over the past 6 years.  We have  created  efficient  and
effective procedures for identifying site locations, performing construction and
remodeling and Grand Opening  Campaigns.  We believe we have the industry's best
recruiting,  training and development  programs to support this expansion plan."
said  Morgenstern.  "We  currently  have  about  150  regional  managers  in our
organization who supervise between 5 and 10 stores.  Through them, we believe we
can recruit and train at least one store manager per year,  per region in 80% of
our  regions.  This will help us meet the  demand  for the  store  managers  our
expansion program will require."

     In other news, the Company reported  monthly revenue  generated by computer
rentals has nearly doubled since September.  "Our large distribution base offers
wonderful  opportunities  to roll out new products and services like  computers,
DVD players and pre-paid local phone service. The success of our computer rental
program has exceeded our  expectations."  said Jeffrey A. Conway,  President and
Chief Operating Officer. "We are very optimistic about the potential of bringing
computers  to our  customer  base in a much  bigger  way in the months and years
ahead.  Our team is also fired up and ready to attack  this 400 store  expansion
program. Rent-Way is no stranger to bold, aggressive goals." said Conway.

     Rent-Way is the second-largest  operator of  rental-purchase  stores in the
USA. Rent-Way rents quality,  brand name merchandise such as home  entertainment
equipment,  furniture and major  appliances  through 1088 stores operating in 41
states.

     This news release  contains certain forward looking  statements  within the
meaning of Section 27(A)(i) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section  21E(i)(1)
of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that involve  known and unknown  risks,
uncertainties  and other factors that may cause actual  results to be materially
different  from any future  results,  performance or  achievements  expressed or
implied by such statements.  Such factors include  Rent-Way's  ability to secure
rental-purchase  store sites in desired  locations or on acceptable  terms,  and
operate such stores  profitably.  Additional factors are set forth in Rent-Way's
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  September  30,1999 and Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1999.

For more information, contact:          William E. Morgenstern, CEO
                                       (800)736-8929 or visit www.rentway.com







                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.





                                                    Rent-Way, Inc.
                                             ---------------------------
                                                     (Registrant)





Date      February 15, 2000                    /s/ William A. McDonnell
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                                                      (Signature)
                                                  William A. McDonnell
                                                Chief Financial Officer






Date      February 15, 2000                      /s/ Matthew J. Marini
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                                                      (Signature)
                                                     Matthew J. Marini
                                        Controller and Chief Accounting Officer