By Hannah Cohn
Do you want a storage facility that is safe, secure, and clean year-round? Then Capitola Self Storage is the place for you!
Manager Josh Nathan said, “Our customers tell us that having a clean and safe place to store their belongings is most important to them.”
Capitola Self Storage is climate-controlled, provides good air flow to all units, and uses 100% LED lighting! They are also a member of the Monterey Green Program!
Capitola Self Storage offers a place where people can store antiques, photos, and museum-level pieces. The building has 24/7 digital security cameras and alarms, keeping items safe and secure.
More people are storing antiques that the younger generation doesn’t want.
Capitola Self Storage has been open since August 2011, and Nathan has been working there since December 2011.
Working at the building for more than 10 years, Nathan has seen a lot of trends when it comes to storage.
“We find that demand for larger garage-sized units has increased to the point where our waiting list is months long!” he said. “I am seeing a lot of people storing antiques that younger generations don’t want or items they don’t know what to do with but don’t want to throw away. Many people are trying to downsize and can’t sell or donate the furniture. I have seen a trend of downsizing as people move into Capitola, however the industry is growing and people’s stuff keeps growing. People are incredibly passionate about their stuff.”
Nathan, when asked if he’s seen more people moving their stuff (due to the exodus of people moving out of California), observed that “many people aren’t storing because they want to, they are storing because they have to. People will store items because they are in transition (moving), are dealing with smaller living spaces or even eviction and homelessness. A lot of people are leaving the state including long-term residents/tenants, which is sad to see, but we are also welcoming new people moving into our community.”
Due to the COVID pandemic, Nathan has seen some changes to the facility’s policies and procedures. For one, “we are more likely to do things over the phone like credit card renewals which is usually done in person for a signature,” he said.
Capitola Self Storage Manager Josh Nathan.
“We still require in-person meetings to rent out our units,” he said. “Our rental requirements are a bit more stringent than other facilities. For example, we will only accept a valid state-issued driver’s license in order to rent out a unit; we don’t accept any other forms of identification.”
Regarding the facility itself, he said, “We wipe down carts after every usage and disinfect the bathrooms daily. This is something that we still do from COVID.”
Right now, Capitola Self Storage has two full-time employees and because of COVID, they are short-staffed.
Nathan adds that Capitola Self Storage “functions as a concierge and is a good source for recommendations for everything from restaurants to movers in the area. Although we are not affiliated with any movers, we curate a list maintained by our customers’ recommendations and who they continue to give good feedback on.”
In terms of what is ahead for the facility, Nathan explains, “We are hoping to launch an app that our customers can download to monitor their storage unit. They would receive alerts about the status of their unit including monitoring alarms and access. The app can even open the doors for them when they arrive! It would really put things in the customer’s hands!”
Overall, the facility is a big part of the community and provides a fun, family feel atmosphere to all customers. It is a place of connection for the neighborhood, serving over 800 people in Capitola!
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Capitola Self Storage is located at 809 Bay Ave., Suite H in Capitola, CA 95010. You can reach them at (831) 465-0600 or [email protected]. They are open Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm; Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. They are closed for lunch from 12pm to 1pm daily. You can check out their website at: https://capitolaselfstorage.com/