CitiStorage
CitiStorage is a privately held real estate investment firm that acquires and repositions self storage assets and commercial properties in U.S. secondary and tertiary markets, serving individual storage tenants and small commercial renters through direct ownership and operation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CitiStorage does
CitiStorage is a privately held real estate investment and operating firm that specializes in acquiring and repositioning self storage assets and commercial properties in secondary and tertiary U.S. markets. Founded in 1990 by Norman Brodsky as a document storage business — and re-established in its current form in 2007 after Brodsky sold the original document storage operation to Allied Capital for a reported $110 million — the firm operates as a direct owner/operator, executing precise business plans centered on physical improvements, site expansions, development, and operational efficiencies to create value from underperforming assets.
The company's product surface spans three core lines: self storage asset management (acquisition, repositioning, and ongoing management of storage facilities), commercial property investment (office, retail, and mixed-use holdings), and real estate development services, where the firm and its affiliated general contractor (The Buildal Group, owned by managing principal Brian Kelly) self-permuch construction. Portfolio operations are concentrated in the New York Metro area and Virginia, with notable holdings in Leesburg and other Virginia markets.
CitiStorage generates revenue through rental income from storage tenants and commercial tenants across its owned portfolio, supplemented by value capture on repositioning and development activities. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured property-by-property. The firm is led by Brian Kelly and Norman Brodsky, both serial entrepreneurs whose cross-domain experience in hospitality, construction, courier services, and real estate forms the basis of the company's value proposition. The firm operates with 51–100 employees and is independently held, with no disclosed institutional capital backing.
CitiStorage firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CitiStorage
- Legal name
- CitiStorage
- Website
- https://citistorage.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CitiStorage is a privately held real estate investment firm that acquires and repositions self storage assets and commercial properties in U.S. secondary and tertiary markets, serving individual storage tenants and small commercial renters through direct ownership and operation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CitiStorage is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
CitiStorage business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
CitiStorage product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CitiStorage is a real estate investment firm that acquires, repositions, and manages self-storage assets and commercial properties in secondary and tertiary U.S. markets, primarily in the New York Metro area and Virginia. The firm executes value-add business plans through physical improvements, site expansions, development, and operational efficiencies, with construction handled by its affiliated general contracting capability. Revenue is generated through ownership and operation of these properties rather than through third-party service contracts.
Product overview
CitiStorage operates as a unified real estate investment and management firm offering a portfolio of self storage asset management, commercial property investment, and real estate development services. The company executes acquisition and repositioning strategies for self storage assets in secondary and tertiary markets, combining physical improvements, site expansions, and operational efficiencies to create value. Development capabilities include warehouse construction where the company acts as its own general contractor.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Self-Storage Asset Management Acquisition, repositioning, and management of self-storage assets in secondary and tertiary U.S. markets, including physical improvements, site expansions, and operational efficiencies; delivered to property owners via acquisition and to end users via self-storage unit rentals.
Companies that use CitiStorage
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CitiStorage technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CitiStorage partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CitiStorage competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Public Storage: Largest publicly-traded self storage REIT in the U.S. with thousands of facilities nationwide. While CitiStorage is a small private acquirer/repositioner, both operate in the self storage value-creation space; Public Storage's acquisition program (including the 2023 Life Storage acquisition) directly competes for the same underperforming assets CitiStorage targets.
- SmartStop Self Storage: Public non-traded and publicly-listed self storage REIT/operator. Competes with CitiStorage on acquisitions and operates self storage facilities in secondary markets where CitiStorage focuses.
- Extra Space Storage: Major publicly-traded self storage REIT with a large owned portfolio and significant third-party management platform. Competes with CitiStorage for stabilized and value-add self storage assets and operates in many of the same secondary/tertiary markets.
- National Storage Affiliates: Self storage REIT that pioneered the 'participating operator' model aggregating regional operators. Conceptually comparable to CitiStorage's regional operator/owner strategy across multiple markets.
- CubeSmart: Self storage REIT that owns and operates facilities and has historically been an active acquirer of stabilized portfolios. Comparable to CitiStorage as both participate in self storage investment and asset management.
Direct peers
- Safeguard Self Storage: Privately-held self storage operator with facilities primarily in the Midwest and East Coast. Comparable to CitiStorage as a private self storage owner with a regional/multi-state footprint.
- StorageMart: Privately-held self storage owner-operator with a multi-state portfolio across the U.S. and Canada. Highly comparable to CitiStorage as a private, multi-market self storage operator pursuing similar ownership and operational strategies.
- Metro Storage: Private self storage owner-operator with facilities across multiple U.S. states. Directly comparable to CitiStorage in scale and operating model as a private multi-market self storage investor.
- William Warren Group (StorQuest Self Storage): Privately-held self storage investment and operating platform (StorQuest brand). Directly comparable to CitiStorage as a private acquirer/operator focused on value-add and growth in secondary/tertiary markets.
Others
- 10th Street Realty: Norman Brodsky's affiliated entity, a private real estate investment firm holding commercial, retail, and self storage properties in the Mid-Atlantic. Adjacent comparison because it shares leadership and asset class focus with CitiStorage, though it is a separate legal entity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
CitiStorage social profiles
Digital presenceCitiStorage financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CitiStorage leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CitiStorage funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CitiStorage M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CitiStorage
What does CitiStorage do?
CitiStorage is a real estate investment firm that acquires, repositions, and manages self-storage assets and commercial properties in secondary and tertiary U.S. markets, primarily in the New York Metro area and Virginia. The firm executes value-add business plans through physical improvements, site expansions, development, and operational efficiencies, with construction handled by its affiliated general contracting capability. Revenue is generated through ownership and operation of these properties rather than through third-party service contracts.
Is CitiStorage a public or private company?
CitiStorage is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CitiStorage founded?
CitiStorage was founded in 2007. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CitiStorage based?
CitiStorage is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
Who are CitiStorage's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Public Storage, SmartStop Self Storage, Extra Space Storage, National Storage Affiliates and CubeSmart. Direct peers are Safeguard Self Storage, StorageMart, Metro Storage and William Warren Group (StorQuest Self Storage). 10th Street Realty is listed as an others.
Does CitiStorage have an API?
No public API is recorded for CitiStorage.