Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlight -

Buffalo thrives because of the passionate entrepreneurs and dedicated neighbors who bring life and purpose to every storefront. In this edition of the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlight, we’re proud to highlight one of our Chamber member businesses — Serenity Storage  — whose commitment to quality, service, and community embodies the spirit of Buffalo. Through their work, they not only elevate our local economy but also strengthen the connections that make our community truly special.

Serenity Storage

Serenity Storage Family Owned and Operated

Serenity Storage was founded in 2007 by Dave & Martha Kolstedt. 

When their oldest son came to attend college at SBU, they discovered that they really liked this part of the country. They eventually purchased property near Tunas and would make yearly trips to spend time there.

After Dave retired from his job, they moved and made Buffalo their home.

Life After Retirement

When asked why he started the business, Dave said, "I worked in larger businesses most of my career and never liked office politics. I liked the idea of working for myself." Dave and Martha purchased the storage facilities at Pumpkin Center and the one in Buffalo, located at US Hwy 65 and Autoscope.

Their son William was the first employee, and he and Dave still work together.

They now manage 32 properties and employ 12 staff members. Their properties range from El Dorado Springs to Rolla, and they manage over 3200 storage units.

"Starting a business was a ton of hard work at the beginning," stated Dave,  "In our first year, I mowed the Buffalo and Pumpkin Center properties with a push mower because we lacked the money for a riding mower. I didn't draw a living salary for over ten years and worked a second job to pay our bills. You need to like to work if you are starting a business!  But I'm glad that we did, and I'm thankful for the support we have received from our community over the years!"

Do You Have Auctions Like on the TV Show?

Dave said the most commonly asked question he gets is, "Do You Have Auctions Like on the TV Show?"  

Dave says that yes, they do have storage auctions monthly, but they don't sell for high amounts like they do on TV.  However, they try really hard to work with customers to prevent auctions.  Sometimes people just disappear, and the auction process is really about getting the unit empty for a new customer.  "We seldom sell the unit for the amount owed, so we'd rather see the customer continue renting their unit."

For more information on the monthly auctions, go to serenitystorage.com for a list of auctions. Anyone can attend and bid on units. 

Honored and Grateful: Serenity Storage Earns National Ranking

Dave shared that Serenity Storage is ranked within the top 100 largest self-storage companies in the United States by two different storage organizations.  Dave said, "Granted, we are in 97th and 99th place, respectively, but I'm honored to have made the list at any position.  We wouldn't have been successful had it not been for the support of the Dallas County community and both Bank of Urbana and O'Bannon Bank."

With two locations in Dallas County, 1518 US 65, Buffalo, and 3293 St Hwy 73, Serenity Storage is committed to helping you solve all your storage unit problems. They are open six days a week and do daily security inspections, and both Dallas County facilities have security cameras.

Serenity Storage offers a variety of storage unit sizes priced to save you money. Serenity Storage understands every customer’s situation is different, so all of their contracts are month-to-month, so there is no long-term commitment.

You can contact Serenity Storage at (417)345-0445.

We’re proud to shine a light on the businesses that make our town thrive—and we hope you’ll join us in supporting the incredible people behind them. Stay tuned for more spotlights as we celebrate the heartbeat of Dallas County, one story at a time.