Self-storage facilities are such a common part of the American landscape these days, it’s hard to remember a time when they weren’t around. The fact of the matter is, self-storage as we know it is only about fifty years old, although the concept of storing your goods somewhere other than your home is much older. The Self-Storage Association believes personal storage first began in England when British banking institutions were asked to safeguard valuables for clients embarking on extended voyages. But bank vaults quickly became filled up, and other locations had to be used, such as drayage, or moving companies’ facilities. In the 1850’s, the first warehouse specifically dedicated to personal storage was built. This became the model for many years — warehouses as tall as ten stories were built for personal storage, with freight elevators to reach the storage rooms
Fast forward to 1960’s America. In the wide open spaces of Texas, an enterprising businessman created the first “self-storage” facility, where the customers could pull right up to their own storage unit, and be the only one with access to the contents. This idea quickly caught on and spread like wildfire throughout the United States and Canada. Surprisingly, the self-storage industry has grown overseas as well, although there are about 2,400 total facilities in Europe, versus 46,000 in the U.S.!
The demand for self-storage is huge in the United States; it is estimated that 40 million people in the U.S. move each year, and moving is frequently an occasion for using storage. And, of course, there is the American appetite for consumer goods. We love our stuff. Today, most storage locations are attractive facilities that blend well with the retail or business neighborhood in which they are located.
Dollar Self Storage is proud of its attractive facilities that provide affordable, clean, and secure storage options for our customers. Visit one of our fifteen locations in Arizona, California, and Nevada to take advantage of our state-of-the-art storage centers and friendly storage experts.