I grew up in New Jersey in a house with a full basement and attic that made storage felt endless…read more Then I moved to Florida, where storage space is practically nonexistent. I quickly realized that many people rely on storage companies for everything from holiday decorations and inherited furniture to all the things they simply cannot part with.
That is where Public Storage comes in. It is the largest self-storage provider in the world. Fun fact: the very first Public Storage opened in El Cajon, California, in 1972, and its first customer was an STP Motor Oil distributor who needed a place to store cans out of his driveway. You probably recognize the company by its signature orange doors, intentionally designed to catch the attention of highway drivers. Today, Public Storage operates more than 5,000 facilities nationwide, with a few policies renters quickly learn. For example, they do not prorate monthly rent, so it is best to move out before your billing date.
Like many storage companies, they attract customers with impressive move-in specials. But once your belongings are settled in and the convenience sets in, the monthly rates can rise dramatically. To be fair, they are upfront about the pricing structure, but realistically, no one moves into storage unit for only a month.
We ended up at the Oakland Park Public Storage when we had to quickly liquidate a large business and needed space to sort, organize, and store inventory. At one point, we rented multiple units across different cities, but now we are down to a single unit here. Security is decent, with two gated entrances before you can access the property. Once inside, the place feels enormous. The facility stretches alongside the train tracks, so the sound of freight trains rushing by become part of the background noise. Along with household belongings, people store boats, trailers, and work trucks.
At night the environment feels less safe. There are often sketchy people lingering around the property. I never feel comfortable leaving the car unlocked or unattended. Vehicles occasionally slow down as if sizing up both you and your belongings. I never saw anyone living inside a unit, but some unhoused people use the facility to store what they own. One elderly man regularly sorts through his possessions in the late afternoon before heading back out on foot for the night.
Most interactions with Public Storage happen online these days, but the one time I went into the office, the employees were surprisingly kind. They even gave me an ice pack from the first aid kit when I needed one. There is also a large RaceTrac gas station directly across the street, which makes it convenient to grab drinks, snacks, or fuel while loading and unloading.
If you need extra space, Public Storage will do the job. Like most storage facilities, it is equal parts convenience, necessity, and the emotional challenge of figuring out what to hold onto.
