As the saying goes, “necessity is the mother of invention” — and anyone who has ever contemplated renting a storage unit, only to find outdated facilities and impersonal service, knows firsthand the need for something better. Luckily, one company has spent nearly a decade changing the face of self-storage, with welcoming, well-designed, easier to use and more professionally run operations making a difference for countless customers.
When the first Modern Storage® facility opened in 2017, said Marketing Director Kaylee Thorp, “we were not simply trying to add more storage units. We wanted to raise the standard for what self-storage could be.”
“We were already heavily involved in commercial and multifamily real estate development, so self-storage was a natural expansion,” Thorp said. “We saw an opportunity to bring our experience to an industry where we believed the product and customer experience could be meaningfully improved. That is where our self-storage journey began.”
Simply put, Modern Storage® was designed to change what people expect from their self-storage experience. Customers have often compared the lobbies to those of hotels, Thorp said, and that is exactly the kind of feeling the Modern Storage® team aims to evoke. Thoughtful architecture, marble finishes, professionally designed landscaping and customer-friendly spaces make for a welcoming environment from the start, while such amenities as conference rooms, business centers, complimentary Starbucks coffee and package acceptance only underscore the company’s people-first vision.
“We pair that design with technology, convenience and a team of real people ready to help,” Thorp said. “For us, the small details matter, because they show customers how seriously we take the entire experience.”
Part of the reason Modern Storage®’s innovative approach has found such success is that it reflects the truly important role a storage service can play in people’s lives. The need for self-storage often accompanies major life changes, and Modern Storage® serves a broad range of customers, including homeowners, apartment residents, students, military families and businesses. Much more than the mere need to stash one’s items somewhere else, storage can serve a variety of purposes, from facilitating changes in one’s living situation to supporting companies with inventory, deliveries and day-to-day operations.
“We see storage as an extension of the home, not simply a place to put extra belongings when space runs short,” Thorp said. “It can give homeowners flexibility during renovations, moves, downsizing, seasonal changes, or as their needs evolve. Customers also value convenient access, security features and a dependable experience when choosing where to store their belongings.”
Whether a family is preparing for a new chapter, an individual is embarking on their latest adventure or a startup is embracing its next phase of growth, the logistics of moving and storing one’s belongings should reduce rather than compound the stress of the moment. Modern Storage® focuses on understanding the customer’s needs first, then helping identify the solution that makes the most sense. The company is constantly working to improve the customer experience, Thorp said, for an easier, more dependable storage process at every step.
“From the first phone call or website visit to walking through one of our facilities, we want the experience to feel simple, clear and dependable,” Thorp said. “We want the experience to feel like more than simply renting space. We want it to provide peace of mind.”
Modern Storage® focuses on continually improving the customer experience through thoughtful design, convenient technology, professional amenities and personal service. In addition to free use of the company’s moving trucks with qualifying new rentals, Modern Storage® provides a number of services with business owners in mind, such as package acceptance, business centers, conference rooms and, at select locations, loading docks and freight-friendly access. Also proving Modern Storage®’s place at the forefront of self-storage is AssetFIND™, a digital app developed by the company and designed to help customers keep track of what they have in storage.
“Our reach also extends beyond those who rent with us,” Thorp said. “Through our website, blogs, videos, social media and our podcast, Modern Storage® Unpacked, we share storage-related education, operating insights and real-world experiences that are useful to customers, developers, facility managers, owner-operators and others interested in learning more about the self-storage industry.”
Modern Storage® is on a mission to improve the self-storage game for customers and industry peers alike, and a growing footprint and list of accolades testify to its achievement thus far. Modern Storage® now has 10 facilities with more than 10,500 units and approximately 1.68 million square feet across central and northwest Arkansas. In 2025, Inside Self-Storage ranked Modern Storage® No. 36 among the Top 50 Facility-Management Companies. Modern Storage® has likewise been named Best Self Storage in both central and northwest Arkansas for three consecutive years, in addition to winning the “Storage Units” category in the 2026 AY About You “Innovative Home Awards.”
“Our goal is to build Modern Storage® into a nationwide brand with facilities across the country,” Thorp said. “Arkansas is where the Modern Storage® story began, not where we expect it to end. As we grow, we intend to bring the same standards, customer experience and attention to detail into each new market.”
Learn more and get started at modernstorage.com, and be sure to keep up with the latest from Modern Storage® on social media and the Modern Storage® Unpacked podcast.
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