South Street Self Storage celebrated its opening in Danbury, Conn., on Sept. 16 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Owners and brothers-in-law Kenneth Fantel and Jay Moody were joined by facility manager Monica Robert as well as family and friends. City officials from Danbury and Bethel, which borders the area, also attended, according to the source. Dean Esposito, chief of staff to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, presented the storage owners with a plaque during the event.

The facility at 39A South St. comprises 24,000 square feet of storage space in 181 units. Designed by local architecture firm seventy2architects, the building sports a red and tan motif as well as a cupola on the office. Property features include LED lighting, moving and packing supplies, temperature-controlled units, video cameras, and vehicle storage.

“We own this corner here. It’s an acre we’ve had for 30 years and always felt it was underdeveloped,” Moody told the source. “We’ve had lots of property in the area and sold it. We decided to use this lot to its highest and best use.”

Fantel and Moody sold Shelter Rock Business Center last year for more than $10 million, the source reported. The family had owned the 17-acre industrial park for nearly 20 years.

The self-storage market in Danbury is crowded, with six competitors within a square mile, Moody said. “We feel with the road frontage and the way this place looks, we’ll be competitive,” he added.

Matt Knickerbocker, a friend of Moody’s and first selectman for Bethel, also attended the event. He told the source he wished the storage facility was in his city. “I’ve known Jay for a long time, and he’s a good businessman and a good guy all around.”

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