DEERFIELD — Garrison Moving & Storage has opened for business at 247 Greenfield Road, just more than a year after the development was approved by the Deerfield Planning Board.
Brent and Kathy Banas, owners of Ideal Moving & Storage in Hadley, have invested more than $2 million in the 250-unit facility that started operating Monday.
“I expect (the new facility) to be mostly business and residential people,” Brent Banas said while sprucing up Deerfield property on Routes 5 and 10 on Aug. 30. “There’s been a big need for storage. We’re starting to do more business out here.”
He said the facility, named after the Banas’ 25-year-old son, includes units that are 5-feet by-5 feet, 5-by-10, 10-by-10, 10-by-15, 10-by-30 and 10-by-40. He said bigger units are typically used for people who are between homes and have sold their current house but have not closed on the new one. None of the units are climate controlled, and they will range in price from $65 a month to $240 a month.
“We’re in our peak season right now. Summer’s the peak season for moving and for storage. People like to get settled before the cold weather comes, so people will be trying to get things done. There’s a lot of families who are trying to get things done before the school year starts so they don’t have to move when their kids are in school, so we’re kind of in the brunt of it now,” he said.
The storage facility will be open seven days a week, but will not have night hours. Brent Banas said it will be fully fenced, with gate access. There will also be a two-floor office building similar to the one at the Hadley facility.
“There are some facilities that don’t have, maybe, an office right on site, but we’ve learned people feel more comfortable having a facility they can go to and talk the lease, ask questions about things,” he said. “Occupancy is very good in Hadley … so we have an established reputation out there.”
Brent Banas said he expects the new facility to be half occupied within a year.
Kathy Banas said the Deerfield government was very accommodating to her family and business. She mentioned Douglas Auctioneers, the auctioneer the Banases use on the rare occasion a storage unit goes up for auction due to a default on rent.
“It’s a very welcoming town and we love our neighbors. Our neighbors are awesome,” she said this week.
Kathy Banas said the business will likely employ 10 to 15 people, between the moving and storage operations.