U-Haul Store in Lake Forest Closes Retail Showroom after 24 Years

Rhea-AI Summary

U-Haul of Lake Forest closed its retail showroom and on-site services on Feb. 22, 2021, after 24 years of operation. The location, situated at 23211 Olive Ave., will maintain its retail building for future use but will no longer lease additional land. Customers can access services just 0.3 miles away at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Lake Forest, which offers a range of moving supplies, trailer sharing, and self-storage units. The closure resulted in the loss of 14 jobs. U-Haul remains operational during the pandemic with enhanced safety measures.

Positive

• Customers still have access to services at a nearby location, improving convenience.
• U-Haul plans to maintain the retail building for future use, indicating potential for growth.

Negative

• The closure of the Lake Forest location led to the layoff of 14 employees, impacting local employment.

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Feb. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul of Lake Forest at 23211 Olive Ave. closed its retail showroom and ceased most on-site services on Feb. 22.

The location served self-movers in and around the Lake Forest community for 24 years.

The Olive Avenue store had operated on two parcels of land: a 16,500-square-foot tract with the retail building, which U-Haul® plans to maintain for future use; and a 7,000-square-foot tract the Company had been leasing, but will no longer do so.

Local residents can continue to have all their moving needs met just 0.3 miles away at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Lake Forest at 25290 Jeronimo Road, former site of Laguna Hills Nursery. The new store offers truck and trailer sharing, moving supplies and boxes, towing equipment and professional hitch installation, U-Box® portable storage containers and more.

U-Haul Moving & Storage of Lake Forest also has 1,133 self-storage units for rent with climate-control options and high-tech security features at affordable price points. Propane will soon be available on the 3.08-acre lot.

Contact the store at (949) 768-4681 or stop by to see general manager Philip Guerra and his team. Hours of operation are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Reserve equipment at uhaul.com or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL.

Local U-Haul Companies are always exploring opportunities for growth as they pursue means to better serve the needs of customers, but sometimes find it necessary to close or relocate stores. Reasons for closures can include: long-term strategic plans; physical plant limitations; shifts in demographics; trends in migration; expansion of the U-Haul neighborhood dealer network; and proximity to other new or existing U-Haul stores.

As a result of the closing showroom and services at 23211 Olive Ave., 14 Team Members were let go.

As an essential service provider, U-Haul has remained open throughout the COVID-19 outbreak while offering contactless programs and enhanced cleaning protocols, including added steps for sanitizing equipment between customer transactions. U-Haul products are used daily by First Responders; delivery companies bringing needed supplies to people's homes; small businesses trying to remain afloat; college students; and countless other dependent groups, in addition to the household mover.

Please visit uhaul.com/announcement for more information on how U-Haul is keeping its Team Members and customers safe.

About U-HAUL

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of 22,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 127,000 trailers and 41,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 774,000 rentable storage units and 66.7 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry, and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S.

Contact:
Andrea Batchelor
Jeff Lockridge
E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com 
Phone: 602-263-6981
Website: uhaul.com

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SOURCE U-Haul

FAQ

What happened to U-Haul's Lake Forest location on February 22, 2021?

U-Haul of Lake Forest closed its retail showroom and ceased most on-site services on February 22, 2021.

How long did U-Haul operate in Lake Forest before closing?

U-Haul operated in Lake Forest for 24 years before closing.

Where can Lake Forest residents go for U-Haul services after the closure?

Residents can access U-Haul services at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Lake Forest, located 0.3 miles away.

What services are available at the new U-Haul location in Lake Forest?

The new location offers truck and trailer sharing, moving supplies, self-storage units, and more.

What were the reasons for the closure of the U-Haul store in Lake Forest?

Reasons for the closure included strategic plans, shifts in demographics, and proximity to other U-Haul locations.