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StorageMart

A privately operated self-storage company with facilities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Last updated August 22, 2026

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Overview

StorageMart is a self-storage company headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, serving customers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Its business is centered on renting storage units to households, businesses, and other customers who need additional space, with facilities that include conventional units and climate-controlled accommodation for belongings requiring greater protection from temperature and humidity fluctuations. The company was founded by Gordon Burnam, who had previously established Storage Trust. Storage Trust became a publicly traded company in 1994 and was acquired by Public Storage for $600 million in 1999. StorageMart subsequently developed as a separate self-storage platform, using a combination of conventional purpose-built facilities and adaptive reuse of unconventional buildings. One example cited in the company's history is a ten-story mid-rise property in Miami, Florida. This approach allowed StorageMart to place facilities in dense urban areas while making them resemble ordinary office or residential buildings rather than traditional warehouses. By the end of 2001, StorageMart had opened 31 facilities in the United States. Its early portfolio included both standard storage units and climate-controlled units, the latter offering a more suitable environment for sensitive or relatively perishable possessions such as wine. The company expanded its domestic footprint through acquisitions and new properties, including the purchase of five Texas properties in March 2005. By May of that year, it operated in 11 states. StorageMart entered Canada in 2007. In 2009, TKG-StorageMart Canada acquired InStorage in a transaction reported at approximately $416 million. The deal increased the combined portfolio to 120 facilities and strengthened StorageMart's position as one of North America's largest privately owned self-storage operators, as well as Canada's largest operator at that time. The company reported 132 facilities in the United States and Canada in 2013, added 31 facilities in 2014, and had reached 172 locations by 2016. The Canadian business also pursued renewable-energy infrastructure. In 2011 and 2012, solar collectors covering approximately 640,000 square feet were installed on the roofs of StorageMart locations in Toronto. The installations were reported to provide about three megawatts of power, linking the company's property portfolio with an effort to generate on-site renewable electricity. In 2016, StorageMart expanded into the United Kingdom through the acquisition of Big Box Storage Centres for a reported £100 million. Big Box operated 15 sites in southeastern England, representing approximately 674,756 square feet and 9,655 units. StorageMart later acquired Manhattan Mini Storage in 2021, broadening its presence in New York City and further increasing the scale of its private self-storage portfolio. StorageMart's facilities have also appeared in popular television programming, including Storage Wars and Storage Wars: Canada. The brand's overall positioning combines convenient urban access, a broad geographic network, multiple unit formats, and storage environments designed for both ordinary household goods and more sensitive possessions. Publicly available reference material does not establish a stock listing, a current chief executive, a precise founding year, or a single ultimate parent company.

History

StorageMart was founded by Gordon Burnam, whose earlier business career included the creation of Storage Trust. Storage Trust became a public company in 1994 and was acquired by Public Storage for $600 million in 1999. StorageMart developed afterward as a separate self-storage platform, building a network of facilities in the United States and later expanding internationally. An important feature of StorageMart's early development was its willingness to use non-traditional buildings for storage. Rather than relying exclusively on warehouse-like properties, the company adapted structures such as a ten-story mid-rise building in Miami. These projects enabled access to dense urban populations and could be designed to blend into office or residential surroundings. By the end of 2001, StorageMart had 31 U.S. facilities, offering both ordinary storage units and climate-controlled units for belongings that benefit from more stable environmental conditions. The company continued its U.S. expansion through property acquisitions. It bought five Texas properties in March 2005 and had facilities in 11 states by May of that year. StorageMart entered Canada in 2007, beginning a period of substantial North American growth. In 2009, TKG-StorageMart Canada acquired InStorage for approximately $416 million. The transaction raised the combined number of facilities to 120 and made StorageMart one of the largest privately owned storage companies in North America, while also making it the largest operator in Canada according to the cited account. StorageMart's Canadian operations were also associated with a major rooftop solar project. During 2011 and 2012, solar collectors were installed across approximately 640,000 square feet of roofs at Toronto storage locations. The installations were reported to generate three megawatts of power. By 2013, the company had 132 facilities across the United States and Canada. It added 31 properties in 2014 and had 172 locations by 2016. International growth continued in 2016 when StorageMart acquired Big Box Storage Centres for a reported £100 million. Big Box contributed 15 sites in southeastern England, with a combined 674,756 square feet and 9,655 storage units. The acquisition established a significant British operating base. In 2021, StorageMart acquired Manhattan Mini Storage, expanding its presence in one of the world's densest urban markets and increasing the scale of its private storage portfolio. The brand has received exposure outside the property sector through appearances by its facilities on Storage Wars and Storage Wars: Canada. The available reference material describes StorageMart as headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, and operating more than 250 facilities across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It does not provide a verified founding year, current executive roster, public ticker, or detailed account of the company's ultimate ownership structure.

  • 2021

    Manhattan Mini Storage acquisition

    [1]

    StorageMart acquired Manhattan Mini Storage, expanding its urban U.S. footprint.

  • 2016

    Big Box Storage Centres acquisition

    [1]

    StorageMart acquired the British operator Big Box Storage Centres and its 15 southeastern England locations.

  • 2014

    Further portfolio expansion

    [1]

    The company purchased 31 additional facilities.

  • 2013

    North American network reaches 132 facilities

    [1]

    StorageMart reported 132 locations in the United States and Canada.

  • 2012

    Toronto solar project completed

    [1]

    Solar collectors installed across Toronto facility roofs during 2011 and 2012 reached approximately 640,000 square feet and three megawatts of capacity.

  • 2009

    InStorage acquisition

    [1]

    TKG-StorageMart Canada acquired InStorage, bringing the combined portfolio to 120 facilities.

  • 2007

    Canadian expansion

    [1]

    StorageMart expanded into Canada.

  • 2005

    Texas portfolio acquisition

    [1]

    StorageMart purchased five properties in Texas in March and had facilities in 11 states by May.

  • 2001

    StorageMart reaches 31 U.S. facilities

    [1]

    By the end of 2001, the company had opened 31 facilities in the United States, including conventional and climate-controlled units.

  • 1999

    Storage Trust is acquired by Public Storage

    [1]

    Public Storage acquired Storage Trust in a transaction reported at $600 million.

Products and positioning

A large private self-storage operator emphasizing convenient locations, urban facilities, conventional and climate-controlled units, and a multinational operating footprint.

  • Self-storage

    Standard self-storage units

    The company's core offering consists of rentable storage units for household, personal, and business belongings. Facilities may provide multiple unit sizes and access arrangements, allowing customers to rent space according to the volume and duration of their storage needs.

  • Specialty self-storage

    Climate-controlled storage

    StorageMart operates climate-controlled units intended for goods that may be affected by temperature or humidity variation. The reference material specifically identifies these units as suitable for more sensitive possessions, including wine and other items requiring a more stable indoor environment.

  • Urban self-storage

    Urban and adaptive-reuse facilities

    StorageMart has used unconventional properties, including a ten-story mid-rise building in Miami, to provide storage in urban settings. This model places facilities closer to densely populated customers and can integrate storage operations into buildings that do not resemble traditional warehouse sites.

Brand decisions

  • 2021

    Acquire Manhattan Mini StorageM&A

    Background

    StorageMart continued to increase its presence in major urban self-storage markets.

    Action taken

    StorageMart acquired Manhattan Mini Storage.

    Aftermath

    The acquisition expanded the company's New York City portfolio and increased its overall private self-storage scale.

  • 2016

    Acquire Big Box Storage CentresM&A

    Background

    StorageMart pursued expansion into the United Kingdom after developing operations in the United States and Canada.

    Action taken

    The company acquired Big Box Storage Centres for a reported £100 million.

    Aftermath

    StorageMart added 15 southeastern England locations comprising approximately 674,756 square feet and 9,655 units.

    Reported acquisition value. £100 million (2016)

  • 2009

    Acquire InStorageM&A

    Background

    StorageMart's Canadian expansion created an opportunity to consolidate a larger national storage portfolio.

    Action taken

    TKG-StorageMart Canada acquired InStorage in a transaction reported at approximately $416 million.

    Aftermath

    The combined company reached 120 facilities and became one of the largest privately owned storage operators in North America.

    Reported acquisition value. $416 million (2009)

  • 2007

    Enter the Canadian marketStrategy

    Background

    After building a U.S. self-storage network, StorageMart sought international expansion.

    Action taken

    The company expanded into Canada, establishing a second national operating market.

    Aftermath

    The Canadian platform later became substantially larger through the acquisition of InStorage.

Recent events

  • StorageMart agrees to acquire Manhattan Mini Storage[2]

    Reported:

    StorageMart announced an agreement to acquire Manhattan Mini Storage and its 18 self-storage facilities in Manhattan. The financial terms were not disclosed by the parties.

  • Unconfirmed

    StorageMart acquired two UK storage facilities[3]

    Reported:

    StorageMart acquired two former CityStore properties in Aylesbury and Dunstable, United Kingdom.

  • StorageMart completes acquisition of nine Milwaukee-area stores[4]

    Reported:

    StorageMart announced the official closing of its acquisition of nine self-storage properties in the Milwaukee metro area from Storage Masters; the properties are now operating under StorageMart management.

  • StorageMart opens facility in Hopkins, Minnesota[5]

    Reported:

    StorageMart opened a self-storage facility at 150 Tyler Ave N in Hopkins, Minnesota, adding a location in the Minneapolis-area market.

  • StorageMart enters the Melbourne, Florida market through a facility acquisition[6]

    Reported:

    StorageMart added a self-storage facility in West Melbourne, Florida, through the recent acquisition of a CubeSmart Self Storage facility, marking entry into a new Florida market.

  • StorageMart acquires two SOS Storage facilities[7]

    Reported:

    StorageMart acquired SOS Self Storage of Noblesville and SOS Storage Fishers in Hamilton County, Indiana. The acquisition added facilities in the Indianapolis market and marked StorageMart's first entry into Indiana.

  • Unconfirmed

    StorageMart completes a new Fredericksburg facility[8]

    Reported:

    StorageMart completed a four-story, climate-controlled self-storage facility in Fredericksburg, Virginia, adding 549 storage units to its portfolio.

  • StorageMart acquires Go Storage facility in Kansas City[9]

    Reported:

    StorageMart acquired the Go Storage facility on 8th Street in downtown Kansas City, adding more than 310 climate-controlled storage units to its portfolio.

Sources9 sources

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