Storage Works owners Neal and Lana Black have transformed the former Star Knitwear factory on Dayton Pike into 179 climate-controlled storage units.
The extensive renovation included the addition of 15 office suites with warehouse space around the center of the building.
A new entrance with landscaping and stack stone facade was also added.
Storage Works owners Lana and Neal Black, right, join Heather Nelson, manager Sheila Maples and Marlene French, from left, in the converted Star Knitwear space.
“It was in need of a lot of repair,” Neal Black said. “We rewired, got new heat and air, new plumbing. We went in and spent weeks pressure washing, putting all new lighting in and painted inside and out.”
The storage facility, which is roughly the size of a football field, once held over 200 people per shift for about 30 years.
“Most everybody in Hixson or Soddy-Daisy at one time or another worked at Star Knitwear,” he said.
Storage Works customers are a mix of local residents and businesses, said manager Sheila Maples. In the front office the staff is able to offer services like delivery acceptance and credit card payments for units over the phone.
“We try to make it easy for people,” said employee Heather Nelson. “We offer climate-controlled spaces for non-climate controlled prices.”
Neal Black said people who have been forced to cut back because of the economy are also cutting back on storage.
“When people reach that point they’ll find a place for those things whether it’s a yard sale or in a relative’s house.”
Nelson said the economy is also bringing customers who are looking for a deal.
In addition to loading dock access the business provides carts and dollies to its customers.
“More or less when people come in here they rent here,” Maples said.
As the owner of Blackberry Creek Apartments, Neal Black said many of his residents, particularly those that are in transition as they build a home, use Storage Works.
“You don’t want to store your furniture out in East Brainerd if you’re building in Soddy-Daisy,” he said.
Among the Storage Works office tenants are Electric Boats, Titan Heating & Air, Pride Cycles, Tennessee Office Products, Hamilton Performance Cycle, Books R Fun, Steve Blevins Construction, Don Pierce Enterprises, Climer Technologies and Middleman Enterprises.
