What is self-storage?

Self storage, short for “self-service storage”, is a concept for the private and commercial storage of items in specially designed, rentable storage units. Customers are given access to individually lockable storage compartments that they can use independently. The units are available in various sizes, from small lockers to large storage areas for furniture, moving boxes or business documents.

Origin and historical development

The origins of the self-storage concept can be traced back to ancient China, where people stored personal belongings in communal warehouses. However, modern self-storage as we know it today developed in the 20th century in the USA.

The first officially documented self-storage business was founded in 1958 by brothers Martin and John Bekins in California, specializing in the storage of household items. Another milestone was the opening of the first modern self-storage facility in 1964 in Odessa, Texas, by the company “A-1 U-Store-It”. This concept quickly spread throughout the United States, especially in urban areas where lack of space was an increasing problem.

In the 1990s, the self-storage model began its global triumph, particularly in Europe, Australia and Asia. In Germany and other European countries, self-storage was initially slower to establish itself than in the USA, but gained in importance due to increasing urbanization, higher housing costs and increasing flexibility in working life.