Recent Press
"Butter Krust Storage is commended for its adaptive reuse of the historic building which fosters community revitalization."
This is what we are all about.
We are incredibly proud to have been awarded the Landmark Commission's Project Award for our Butter Krust Storage development in Corpus Christi, TX. This award is given to projects that exemplify the Landmark Commission's mission to promote the use of history and cultural landmarks for the culture, prosperity, education, and general welfare of the people and visitors of the City.
The original building was constructed in 1938 but sat vacant from 1997-2018 when we purchased it. We were able to repurpose the space while still maintaining the integrity and notable sign on the building. This is a shining example of the work we love to do - rebuilding and revitalizing communities.
New Orleans is known for its hospitality, rich cultural heritage, and fortitude in facing natural calamities. 2020 was no different as the city was on the front lines of the COVID-19 battleground.
Chris owns and self-manages about 70 properties in the New Orleans area, including 25 short-term rental properties in Louisiana and some self-storage, industrial, retail, and mixed-use facilities.
Chris saw a way he could be part of the solution.
Chris talked with a Lieutenant with the local first responder's organization who was trying to arrange housing. During the conversation, the officer had mentioned to Chris that he might get some funding from the non-profit New Orleans Foundation to pay Chris for providing housing for the first responders.
A few local hotels, such as The Troubadour and the Higgins Hotel and Conference Center have offered rooms at discounted rates for first responders or their families.
And recently a New Orleans real estate company has started to offer empty rental properties as free places to stay for quarantining first responders.
Real estate developers Chris and Ashley Genard — who operate the Genard Company, which oversees short- and long-term rentals through the couple's property management firm, Stay Redamo — say they thought their rental units would provide more comfort than a hotel, as guests staying in them can go from room to room and spend time on porches and decks.
As social distancing measures took effect last month and would-be travelers canceled their visits, the Genards' short-term rental properties sat empty. Like many of the community relief efforts in the age of the pandemic, the idea sparked through social media.
"One of my employees sent me a post [on Facebook]," Chris says. "It said 28 paramedics possibly need to be quarantined. So I said, I’ll donate [my units]."
After talking with some first responders he knew, Genard says, “I can tell they've been going through a lot — they’re on the front line, there’s fear of them going home to give [the virus] to their kids, or spouses — that's weighing heavily on them. ... They need to quarantine from their loved ones, but be in a comfortable atmosphere."
Local property owners Chris Genard and Polly Watts are letting EMS staff stay at their vacant rental properties free of charge as some are nervous about spreading the virus to their families. “We are going to get through this,” Watts said. "New Orleans is very strong.” Genard described the conversation he had with one paramedic. “It was a breakdown, an emotional breakdown, for him saying man I didn’t expect this you don’t know how much we are appreciative of this.”
“These are new times for many. During an ever-changing landscape of emergency response during the COVID 19 pandemic our medics are amazing us daily with their strength and fortitude in the face of increased call volumes, challenging response scenarios, and the ever-present anxiety surrounding everyone during this time. And through all of this, New Orleans is banding together to reach out and support each other and everyone's efforts during this time. New Orleans EMS - we've got you. In addition to this, we have countless people to thank during this time. We'd especially want to mention our new friends below who continue to blow us away. We just want to say thank you.”
The old Butter Crust Bakery building at 2002 Ayers St. in Corpus Christi is being converted into a climate-controlled storage. Built in 1938, the building has been vacant for the past 20 years. Ronald Fremin and Chris Genard of Louisiana purchased the property in August and have already started work on the renovation.
While the interior will be dramatically different — ovens replaced with both residential and commercial storage units — the outside will retain the integrity of its original design. The new owners want to honor the building’s history. They named their new business Butter Krust Storage LLC.
The renovation, which costs about $950,000, is expected to be complete in March. Fremin and Genard have developed other commercial properties in nearby Robstown and Refugio.
Business partners Ronald Fremin and Chris Genard, both of Louisiana, bought the building in August 2019. They plan to develop the structure into a climate-controlled storage facility for both residential and commercial needs. They own several other storage facilities in their home state. However, the exterior facade of the Butter Krust building won't change. Fremin and Gernard even named their new business after the building — Butter Krust Storage LLC. Construction started in September, and the owners plan to open the facility in March. According to city building permits, renovations have a cost valuation of about $950,000.
Initially, Chris went back and forth with organizers about how much he would charge and what they would be able to afford to pay to house the first responders. But Chris quickly pivoted from focusing on how much he could charge to thinking about how much he could help.
“I just started thinking, ‘Why am I worried about money right now? Let’s do a good thing first, and we’ll worry about everything later.’ So I called them back and said, ‘You’ve got people who are in need right now. Let’s get them a house and I’ll do it for free. And if down the line, if y’all can pay something later, that’s fine, but if you can’t, I’m not worried about it.’”