Update 4/27/2015 – The new Compass Self Storage in River Grove, Ill., is now open. It’s the fifth storage facility the company has opened this year. The property currently offers more than 56,000 net rentable square feet of storage space, and Compass plans to add drive-up self-storage in the future.

"We are thrilled to open this brand new, state-of-the-art self storage center in River Grove. We will serve as a convenient, one-stop shop for the moving and storage needs of our customers," said Todd Amsdell, president.

4/14/2015 – The Amsdell family of companies is converting the former Fort Lock Corp. property in River Grove, Ill., which has been vacant since 2006, into a 90,000-square-foot storage facility. The 3.5-acre property at 3000 River Road is expected to open next week and will be operated by Compass Self Storage LLC.

The majority of the storage building will contain climate-controlled units, the source reported. Compass plans to add drive-up self-storage in the future. Additional features include electronic gate access, individually alarmed units and video cameras. The property will also offer U-Haul truck rentals and the sale of packing and moving supplies.

Although there are already two self-storage facilities in the area, the new one will fill a need for business storage in the community, according to Ray Bernero, River Grove’s director of economic development.

“A lot of small-business people rent storage space,” he said. "I don't think Compass will take away from the others based on the need for storage. It's been a long time coming and we're going to reopen one of our many vacancies."

Compass Self Storage will also spur economic growth for other companies in the area, Bernero said. "Hopefully, when they come to the storage facility, they will patronize and support the other surrounding businesses.”

Headquartered in Cleveland, the Amsdell Cos. draws its roots from the family-owned construction company founded in 1928. The company, which owns and operates self-storage properties in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, has since been active in several billions of dollars worth of real estate ventures with a primary focus in self-storage.

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