“When we first began this thing, lenders were hesitant because they weren’t sure we could get that many people to store their personal items,” said Pick, who along with his wife, Leilani, are former Big Island residents. “But this has
BY BOBBY COMMAND
WEST HAWAII TODAY
bcommand@westhawaiitoday.com
It’s not your mom and dad’s self-storage units anymore.
What began as a business that would allow people to store their “stuff” has evolved into a vital part of business, especially in areas where floor space is at a premium.
Great American Self Storage has already begun work on its 68,000-square-foot self-storage facility in the old Kailua Industrial Area. Located on 3.2 acres of Queen Liliuokalani Trust property, the $8 million facility is scheduled to open in August.
David Pick, founder of the company, said clientele of the self-storage industry has gone from mainly apartment dwellers renting 75 square feet of space for storing household goods, to a warehouse for various businesses renting an average of 160 square feet of space.
“When we first began this thing, lenders were hesitant because they weren’t sure we could get that many people to store their personal items,” said Pick, who along with his wife, Leilani, are former Big Island residents. “But this has evolved greatly over that period of time.”
