Joe Auer is a frequent traveler between his home near Austin and areas of Colorado and was looking for an opportunity to buy a storage business somewhere in West Texas. Fort Stockton, it turns out, is the perfect spot.

Auer spent a year learning about the self-storage business and made sure he wanted to do it, then spoke to several self-storage owners in the area, including Fort Stockton business-owner Jean Michel Duforat.

“Once I got convinced I wanted to do it, I wanted to make sure I did a good job,” Auer said. “So, I just tried to learn as much as possible. I got a mentor who kind of held my hand through the process, and now I think I know what I’m doing.”

Duforat operated WTI Storage just north of town on the Monahans Highway – as well as the historic Grey Mule Wine Saloon in downtown Fort Stockton – and Auer reached out to him.

“I just reached out to him, and he was willing to come to an agreement with me and here I am today,” Auer said. “I talked to a number of different storage owners and Michel was just great, and it seemed to naturally just kind of work out that way.”

Auer is setting up his new business to be as efficient and convenient as possible.

“To make it not just easy for me, but easy for a customer to get signed up and not have to call someone and have them come out and meet them and coordinate times,” Auer said.

Everything is handled online.

“Either call, or you can sign up online, and you’ll get a gate code specific to you,” Auer said.

Once signed up, paid and have a gate code, go to your assigned unit and there will be a green lock on the unit. Reach out to the call center for the combination and, once the lock is removed, drop it in a drop box provided at the site.

“All communication is done automatically through email and occasionally text message, as well,” said Auer, who added that the response so far has been positive.

The site is isolated but not far from town, and is secure, which Auer said makes the property unique. The entire property is fenced, you can’t get in without a code, and security cameras are in operation 24/7. Auer will also have maintenance patrol the area once a week and Auer himself will make frequent trips to Fort Stockton.

“Michel did a great job with the construction,” Auer said, adding that Michel constructed the buildings in 2019. “I just want to kind of add the efficiency, automation side to it just to make everyone’s life easier. We try to make it as secure as possible and we’re just trying to check the boxes of what I think people want.”

It’s perfect for those who don’t want to interact with people and just want an affordable and secure place to store their belongings.

“If you never wanted to talk to anyone ever, you’re just that kind of person, you can just sign up Online, get a gate code, get a combo to your green lock, put it in and never have to talk to anyone,” Auer said.

WTI Self Storage is located at 1164 W. 47th Ln., about three miles north of Fort Stockton off State Highway 18. For more information, visit WTIstorage.com or call (432) 309-4933.