Lost in (Storage) Space

Americans have been storing a staggering amount of personal belongings in self-storage units. But along with the foreclosure crisis, storage companies are now seeing people foreclose on their lockers.

2 minute read

July 8, 2008, 11:00 AM PDT

By Michael Dudley


"For critics of America's shopaholic culture, there's no starker symbol of materialism run amok than the ubiquitous self-storage locker. Concrete and steel bunkers, crammed to the hilt with TVs, couches and other sundry accumulations, have sprung up on just about every spare patch of dirt in recent years.

It may be hard for Canadians to grasp just how massive the self-storage industry has become in the U.S. In the span of a decade, the amount of storage space south of the border has more than doubled to 2.2 billion sq. feet - an area larger than the total land mass of Manhattan and San Francisco combined. Nearly 55,000 storage facilities line interstates, clutter industrial parks, and have taken root in suburbs. By some estimates, one in 10 U.S. households - or more than a million homeowners - now rent a locker.

They also seem to be essential for people going through change. The increase in the number of storage sites in recent years has been linked to things like rising divorce rates, the aging population, the propensity of Americans to pick up and move for work, and the large number of U.S. troops serving overseas. By one count, military personnel account for seven per cent of all locker rentals. Which is why investors have been so bullish on the sector lately - if there's anything America is experiencing right now, it's upheaval."

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 in Macleans Magazine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Red 1972 Ford Pinto with black racing stripes on display with man sitting in driver's seat.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto

The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

July 2, 2025 - Mother Jones

Close-up of park ranger in green jacket and khaki hat looking out at Bryce Canyon National Park red rock formations.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions

Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

February 18, 2025 - National Parks Traveler

Paved walking path next to canal in The Woodlands, Texas with office buildings in background.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50

A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

February 19, 2025 - Greg Flisram

Screenshot of shade map of Buffalo, New York with legend.

Test News Post 1

This is a summary

0 seconds ago - 2TheAdvocate.com

Red 1972 Ford Pinto with black racing stripes on display with man sitting in driver's seat.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto

The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

18 minutes ago - Mother Jones

test alt text

Test News Headline 46

Test for the image on the front page.

March 5 - Cleantech blog