Shopping plaza off U.S. Route 62 in Canton to be converted o new storage unit complex

Tim Botos, The Repository
·2 min read
This nearly vacant shopping plaza on Maret Street NE, along U.S. Route 62 in Canton, will be converted into storage units.
This nearly vacant shopping plaza on Maret Street NE, along U.S. Route 62 in Canton, will be converted into storage units.

CANTON – Much of the nearly vacant retail plaza along the north side of U.S. Route 62 will be converted into storage units.

The shopping strip, anchored by a soon-to-be-relocated Aldi store, is situated between Maret and Lesh streets NE. The location is directly opposite the Eastbury Bowling Center.

Peoples Choice Storage Canton, a recently created company, filed documents with the Stark County Recorder office three weeks ago, indicating that renovation work is about to begin.

The company is affiliated with Peoples Choice Storage, of Altamonte Springs, Florida. Representatives of the business did not return phone calls seeking comment for this story.

A project renovation permit at the city's building department describes the work as a $3 million interior demolition and roof project, to encompass nearly 38,000 square feet. Oden Hardy Construction, of Florida, has been hired to as the contractor.

Peoples Choice operates 11 storage sites in Florida, South Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky, according to its website. All its locations include gated entry, perimeter fancing and video surveillance.

According to The SpareFoot Storage Beat website, self storage occupancy is on a slight decline but remains big business. Industry statistics show $29 billion in annual revenue in the U.S., across 51,206 facilities, with 1 in 10 households renting storage space.

Peoples Choice purchased the plaza strip ― and its nearly six acres of property ― in October for $1.5 million.

The strip building was constructed in 1990. At one time, it was known as Pleasantview Commons and was home to a variety of shops and retailers, including a Fashion Bug.

This nearly vacant shopping plaza on Maret Street NE, along U.S. Route 62 in Canton, will be converted into storage units.
This nearly vacant shopping plaza on Maret Street NE, along U.S. Route 62 in Canton, will be converted into storage units.

The property is just west of a Mr. Hero and a former Kmart store.

Construction of a new Aldi store is already underway on the southeast corner of the former Kmart property. And renovation work inside the old Kmart building itself will transform it into a M@C Discount.

The 7.5-acre Kmart site is owned by a family trust. Local developer Grant Giltz, who rejuvenated Oakwood Square shopping center in Plain Township among his projects, has leased the location.

Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 ortim.botos@cantonrep.com.On Twitter: @tbotosREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Peoples Choice Storage buys Canton strip plaza for storage units