Borrowing from the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears might be the best way to describe the Mini Business Warehouses in Prescott Valley. Many of those in small business need a warehouse, but most are way too big. On the other hand, average storage units are too small and not zoned for business, but the Mini Business Warehouses are just right.
“These units, all zoned M1, are for retail, wholesale, manufacturing,” said owner Larry Lemelson. They are 400 to 600 square feet with roll-up doors and a walk-through door. All are sheet-rocked and finished inside and all have power and computer capabilities.
“We are fully fenced, fully equipped with security cameras and there is an on-site manager 24/7 and we are open 24 hours a day,” he said. “We paved it and fenced it.”
“This is geared to small businesses and the economy, which is up and down,” he said. “You can run any type of business there, short of crushing cars.”
He says Frito Lay rents a unit and uses it as a distribution center where their large trucks can drop off items that local route drivers can pick up to supply their customers. It allows large trucks to take advantage of the drive-through feature that allows them to drive straight in, unload and drive straight out.
“We also have On Track Delivery, a sort of UPS, with local delivery trucks that also uses a unit as a distribution center and a cable company that uses one to store its equipment. We have a guy who is building race cars and exotic cars,” he said. “We have a fellow that builds and repairs motorcycles.”
Jeremy Hassen, who rents a unit for his souvenir business, says it accommodates the large trucks that come to drop off items, mostly Route 66 memorabilia. “It is set up for pretty much anybody,” he said. “Other places want you to have larger spaces when you don’t need a bigger space. For what you get for the price, you just can’t go wrong.”
Lemelson said other, much larger warehouse facilities want a security deposit. They want a one- to three- year lease. “Ours comes with sewer, water and trash and our average rent is $450,” he said. “You have a fixed cost. The only thing additional is electricity. We rent month-to-month, no lease required. If things don’t work out, simply give us a 30-day notice. There is no security deposit. We geared it for small business and we are the only thing available out there that is not at least 1,500 square feet.”
Lemelson bought the property about 11 years ago and it set dormant for a while until they built the first 12 units. “We completely filled it within a month,” he said. “We just completed phase two, which has 20 units. Now we have 32 units.”
These are filling up fast, so much so that there are only four vacancies.
“I am thrilled. We were surprised they filled up overnight,” he said.
Lemelson said he plans to build out soon, but in the meantime, the owner of large RVs can park on that property for a flat fee of $50 a month. He said he plans to expand to Phoenix.
Eric Cardyn, one of the on-site mangers, runs a music store from his unit called “House of Rock.” He was the first one to rent a unit when the facility opened a little more than a year ago.
“I sell music, musical equipment and supplies,” he said.
Cardyn says he appreciates the units because they are in a good location and are inexpensive to rent. “It gives people an opportunity to do something they would not be able to do. If you try to get a place in town, you are looking at $1,000 a month.”
Mini Business Warehouses is located at 622 Bennett Drive near highways 69 and 169 in Prescott Valley.
By Patty McCormac
For more information, call 928-220-8650 or visit www.minibusinesswarehouses.com