Metro Self Storage 50th Anniversary
January 31, 2023 | Your Local Metro
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of opening our first self storage facility (The Vault) in Chicago, Illinois, in 1973. We’re excited to celebrate each month by taking a deep dive into some of the major milestones we’ve accomplished over the past five decades here on our blog.
Our company’s founder, Karl Nagel, discovered the concept of “mini-warehouses” (the original name for self storage) while on a business trip in Texas. Finding it an interesting niche in the real estate market, Mr. Nagel was enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing the concept to Chicago.
In 1973 Mr. Nagel built one of Chicago’s first self storage facilities, naming it “The Vault.” When people started moving their belongings through the mud before construction was complete, he knew his new business would succeed. And, like many other American Dream success stories, ours also came through vision, hard work, and perseverance.
In the coming decades, we expanded throughout Chicagoland and, eventually, the country. A little more than two decades after opening the first store, Mr. Nagel’s two sons would take over the reins in 1997 to significantly expand Metro’s presence.
Our story continues on our next post about The Vault and life and culture in the 70’s.
Celebrate 50th Anniversary in Self Storage Industry All Year Long
While people may not be hiking through the mud to store their belongings, one in three Americans utilizes self storage today. As a result, the industry offers 1.6 BIllion sq. ft. of storage space here in the U.S. alone.*
Sharing the stories and highlights from the past fifty years is one way we’ll celebrate with our customers, employees, and friends throughout 2023. So check back here every month and watch our social media channels—Facebook and Twitter—to follow our story.
Making Room for You Since 1973
Here at Metro Self Storage, we pride ourselves on creating relationship-driven facilities where people come first. Since opening our first storage facility in 1973, Metro Self Storage has grown to become one of the nation’s most respected storage providers.
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we continue to uphold an excellent reputation for outstanding customer service alongside state-of-the-art storage facilities in convenient neighborhoods and business districts.
If you’d like to find out if there is a Metro Self Storage near you, visit us online at metrostorage.com to find convenient storage solutions with modern amenities and friendly customer service.
