Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Beck
Hi Kelly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our story started over 50 years ago. In 1968, my grandfather (WWII Vet), Ed Stanton Sr. needed a place to store his boat when he wasn’t taking his two young sons, Eddie Jr. and Tim, fishing on the Gulf. He purchased a small tract of land off Almeda Genoa and Radio Rd. just south of Beltway 8 near Hobby Airport and began building some storage units for him and his friends. Through the next few years he acquired more property close-by and continued erecting storage space for boats, campers, RV’s and miscellaneous. It was here that the Boat and Camper Storage, Inc. was born.
He then purchased an old lumber warehouse and car dealership that were right next to each other down the road that would later become the “Almeda Antique Malls”. This was to fulfill my grandmother’s desire to own a place where she could sell her pottery and allow other antique vendors in the area to do the same. With both the storage and antique mall businesses booming, my grandparents needed some help. Having both sons graduated from college and married, they enlisted help from within. My dad, Eddie, and uncle Tim became managers of the Boat and Camper Storage, Inc. with my grandfather, while my mom, Kerry, left her job as a cyto-technologist and helped her mother-in-law with the antique business. It was a move of selflessness and my mom will tell you, directed by God. My grandparents also had other family members that stepped up to help them with the businesses including brothers, sisters, and cousins. Some of my earliest memories are riding around the “boat sheds” with my grandfather, dad, or uncle and running around the antique malls with my brother getting into all sorts of mischief! We could regularly be found whizzing around customers and upsetting dealers while riding furniture dollies up and down the aisles. These businesses were an integral part of my childhood.
Growing up around a family that worked together and watching how they interacted with their beloved customers day in and day out, and observing how their faith in Jesus Christ played a vital role in how they operated really shaped me. My grandparents loved what they did and they continued working until the day that they passed. My grandmother passed in 2020 at 89 years old and my grandfather passed in 2021 at 96 years old. The day that he passed, he came to work. At the time of his death, my grandfather was also one of the oldest electrical engineers in the state of Texas. Each year he had to take a test to keep his certification, and each year he passed. My grandparents were two of the most dedicated, hardworking, and joyful human beings I’ve ever known. Everyone loved them and they loved the people of Houston that came through their business doors each day. On multiple occasions I would witness my grandfather literally giving those less fortunate the clothes off his back. My grandmother was no different. After my grandparents passed, my family decided it was best to sell the Antique Malls in 2022. My dad and uncle held on to the business their father started and continued managing the Boat and Camper Storage, Inc. until July of 2024.
It was then that my husband, Mike, and I moved from the Lake Travis, Austin area to help out the family business. The move was not lightly considered. I had an interior design business in Austin while Mike worked for my brother’s Oil and Gas company. We served as deacons at our church and were a part of an awesome community there. Our three boys were highly involved in sports and had a lot of friends. Completely uprooting our lives to move to Houston to work at the family storage business was NOT on our radar. But after seeking God together and asking His will for our lives, He answered. My husband and I both were given several confirmations that this was the path we were supposed to follow. What a joy it has been to follow Jesus!
So in July 2024, we sold all of our belongings, packed up our two German Shepherds (“Buck” and “Joy” who now serve as our side kicks at the storage biz), our three boys, and moved back to the Houston area – specifically Friendswood. What’s special is we live in my childhood home (which happens to be the property my grandparents bought in the 60’s and raised my dad in then let my parents raise my brother and I). We serve as managers of the Boat and Camper Storage, Inc. while my dad and uncle remain owners and enjoy retired life.
Our lives look drastically different now than they did 7 months ago, but we feel incredibly blessed to be able to work together and live in God’s will for our lives. We also feel blessed that we can continue the legacy that my grandfather created over 50 years ago in this great city. With over 900 units and 20 acres of land off Almeda Genoa and Radio Rd., we are a large self-storage facility and we pride ourselves in offering the most affordable rates in the industry. We’re able to do that by the precedent my grandfather set back in the 60’s; work hard and provide a service people truly need. Although I miss the creative aspect of being an interior designer, I’m able to channel that energy into my own childhood home. Everything has shown itself to be full circle, and we are so thankful that we get to be a part of what my grandfather started over 50 years ago and serve the people of Houston!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We’ve seen our fair share of challenges since taking over in July. Coming into a completely different industry than what you’ve been used to has been somewhat of an adjustment, but it’s one that my husband and I get to do together and that has made it smoother. God has been so good in preparing us for this. A lot of the same logistical skills I had to have running my own design business and skills my husband used in the Oil business are skills we’ve adapted to fit managing a large facility such as this one. The biggest hurdle was changing our software from MS-DOS (a program my uncle created specifically for my grandfather when the business began) to a self-storage software called CC Storage that operates exclusively online. We’ve also recently partnered with the Texas Self-Storage Association. They’ve been incredibly helpful. My dad and uncle have also been a massive help in the transition. They’ve been more than accepting of our new ideas and eager to help us. A lot of the customers are people they know by name and have developed relationships with over the years, so having them to also bounce ideas off of and give us insight to different aspects of the business has been instrumental in the transition! Their guidance and wisdom have been invaluable. They want us to succeed and having that support and encouragement is paramount.
We’ve been impressed with Boat and Camper Storage, Inc., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The most important/unique things to know about us is how long we’ve been in business. We’ve seen this particular part of Houston evolve so much in the past 50 years. We specialize in self-storage for boats, campers, rv’s, and miscellaneous items. We are a large facility with over 900 units and 20 acres off Almeda Genoa and Radio Rd. We’re proud of the fact that we still operate as a small mom and pop but we are by no means “small”. A lot of the larger storage facilities that would be our competition have lost the value of operating this way. They’ve gone to outsourcing their operations with either AI or impersonal measures that take the customer service out of the transaction. Because we haven’t forgotten how we started, and we keep customer service our first priority, we are unique for this size in the self-service industry. We’re also able to keep our rates the most affordable in town! Some of our customers have been with us since the beginning – over 50 years! That’s something we’re proud of.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
People need community. They are longing for it – craving it. When the world shut down in 2020 from Covid-19, you really saw what happened to a society that was deprived of human connection. This is why our main priority is focused on customer service. In an industry where customer service isn’t really expected, we see the value in face to face conversations, developing relationships with our tenants, and letting them know we truly care and are there to listen.
Pricing:
- 11×24′ concrete unit – $145/mo
- 11×26′ gravel unit – $140/mo
- 11×30′ concrete unit – $175/mo
- 11×30′ gravel unit – $150/mo
- Open parking coming soon!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bacstorage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boatandcamperstorage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561736533813
- Other: https://www.bornagainhome.com
