About Us

The Story of Hoffman’s Storage

By Joann Hoffman (second generation owner)

A Tarpon Springs Legacy Since 1972 Hoffman’s Storage is more than a storage facility. It is a piece of Tarpon Springs history.

The story begins with my father, Robert L. Hoffman, who arrived in Tarpon Springs in 1967 after serving his country in the U.S. Army. Soon after, he joined the Tarpon Springs Police Department, dedicating himself to protecting the community he would grow to love. Not long after arriving, he met my mother, who was finishing her senior year of high school. They married shortly after her graduation and began building a life together here in Tarpon Springs. I was born on August 25, 1971—just as my father was beginning to build something that would become part of the town itself.

In the early 1970s, my father began purchasing small parcels of land along Lemon Street. Having grown up in Chicago, where nearly every home had a basement for storage, he quickly realized something about Florida living: homes here simply didn’t have that extra space. Many homes didn’t even have garages—just simple carports. People needed a place to store their belongings. So in 1972, my father built the first structure of what would become Hoffman’s Mini Storage. The original building contained just twelve 12x20 storage units. At the time, self-storage facilities were almost unheard of in this area. In fact, Hoffman’s was among the very first in Pinellas County and quite possibly the first in Tarpon Springs. After my parents divorced, my father made the property his homestead, converting two of the units into a small one-bedroom studio apartment where he lived while continuing to grow the business.

Soon after the first building was completed, he expanded the property, adding ten more large units. The driveways were simple lime rock at the time, often dusty, but the community didn’t mind. Residents simply needed a safe place to keep their belongings. My father built the structures to last. All the buildings were constructed with solid concrete block walls and flat roofs, designed to stand strong against Florida weather and reduce fire risk. He also carefully chose the Lemon Street location because of its higher elevation, helping protect the property from flooding. Even back then, he was thinking long-term.

Over the years, the facility slowly grew alongside the community:

1972 – Building #1 constructed

1973–1974 – Additional buildings added

1976 and 1978 – Continued expansion as demand increased

By the mid-to-late 1980s, the business had become successful enough that someone approached my father about purchasing it. He agreed to sell—while also financing the buyer himself. After traveling for several years, however, he regained ownership of the property in 1989. Around that time, he asked me to help him run the business. At first, I declined. My goal was to pursue a career with the Florida Marine Patrol, and I had other plans for my future. But life sometimes has its own plans.

In 1990, my father expanded again, adding Building #5, introducing smaller 5x10 units to meet growing demand. Then in 1992, a serious car accident changed my path. I stayed in Tarpon Springs and began helping my father rebuild and grow the business. By 1993, I officially became an owner of Hoffman’s Mini Storage, buying into my father’s legacy and later purchasing the business from him entirely. We incorporated as Hoffman’s Mini Storage, Inc.

The property continued to grow with the community. In 2003, I designed and built the sixth and final building, completing the facility as it stands today. This property has been more than just a business to our family. It has been our home. For nearly 35 years, it was my homestead. I raised my daughter here, and even my grandchildren spent their toddler years playing around the property. It has been part of our lives—and part of Tarpon Springs—for over half a century.

Passing the torch was not an easy decision. But I am deeply grateful that the new owner and his family have chosen to continue this legacy while honoring the Hoffman name and the history behind it. They are locals to Tarpon Springs as well and they are very involved in the community. Knowing that Hoffman’s Mini Storage will remain in the hands of people who care about this community means everything. The next generation of owners strive to provide the same excellent customer care and commitment to serving the storage needs of the community as my family.

I wish them nothing but continued success as they carry this story forward for the next generation of Tarpon Springs.

God Bless.