Doug and Carol Degenhart have a new model for the old familiar store-and-lock facility. Beaver Valley Self Storage, 2242 Beaver Valley Road in Fairborn at the Beavercreek boundary, is the second venue of the type for the couple.
Degenhart is a builder by trade, and he knew exactly what he wanted and what his customers would want when he helped design the building. Wrought iron gates provide security to the complex, which has interior entrances. The office looks like a Homerama entry, with attractive cabinetry, furnishings and décor. The tops of the buildings are roofed in green architectural dimensional shingles, and the complex is done in fresh shades of cream and green. Each tenant has an individual code to enter the complex, and security and comfort are first and foremost.
Interview With Degenhart:
"We want to cater to women," Degenhart said. "We have security cameras, music and the overall appearance is of comfort and safety. "Our hallways are well lit and we're on site six days of week. It's all about security and comfort — it's like a beaver lodge." Climate-controlled units and their access areas are heated and air conditioned. These are popular with people who need to store items that need protection from changes in temperature and atmosphere, such as furs, furniture and supplies for medical reps. "Our specialty is our heated and air-conditioned units, and the larger commercial size 12-by-30 feet and 15-by-30 feet,'' Degenhart said.
"For as little as $30 a month, you can get a small 5-by-5-foot unit all the way up to $190 a month." Phase I was completed in January, with 200 initial units; 500 more will be added in later phases. The location is an aspect that Degenhart believes holds great appeal to potential "storers." "We have great accessibility to Wright State University, the Fairfield Commons mall and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base," Degenhart said. "We've been family-owned and in business since the early '80s. And we pride ourselves on customer service." So who rents storage units? People with something to hide? Pack rats? It's not like that at all, according to Degenhart.
"More and more people are learning to use self-storage," he said. "It's not a new industry, anymore. Garage sales are easier to organize with a unit and you don't end up with the clutter in your house.
Beaver Valley Self Storage offers 10 storage sizes and six choices in climate-controlled units. "We are proud members of both the Fairborn and Beavercreek chambers of commerce," Degenhart said. "We even accept deliveries for our customers. "Some are retail establishments and some are homeowners storing out-of-season decorating and 
equipment." Degenhart credits his wife for helping their business run smoothly. "If it wasn't for my wife, Carol, we couldn't do this. We're a team. She's the managing partner. I do the construction and development, while she runs the operations and management. "We make a great team. It if weren't for her, we couldn't do all this."
Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
