Michelle Griffith - The Spectrum Magazine

Saf Keep Storage Has Some Spice
By Nicole Minieri, Contributing Writer
Cheryl Angeles stands in front of the Saf Keep facility
on Middlefield Road.
Her list of achievements within the Redwood
City community is impressive: Chairman of the
Board, Person of the Year, Business Woman of
the Year, Ambassador for Chamber and Chamber
Spice Girl. That’s right, “Spice Girl,” and Cheryl
Angeles brings plenty of seasoning to her current
role as a top-tier manager for Saf Keep Storage,
a thriving family-owned self-storage solution
company nestled in a visible spot adjacent to
Costco on Middlefield Road in Redwood City.
Having numerous sister locations throughout
the Golden State, the Redwood City branch has
been manned by Angeles for nearly two decades.
“I have been with Saf Keep Storage for the last
19 years, and most of my staff has remained with
me throughout the years,” said Angeles. “The
senior operations manager has been with me for
18 years, I have a supervisor that has been with
me for 15 years, and a maintenance worker who
has been with me a total of seven years. We are
like a little family. Other employees that I have
had throughout the years have been promoted on
to other managerial positions. It’s been such a
wonderful experience to watch your employees
grow and move on.”
The key to the longevity of Angeles’ dedicated,
close-knit staff is her uplifting attitude, one of
the “spices” she brings to Saf Keep Storage. “I
am a good mentor and I love helping people with
potential,” said Angeles. “I really try to inspire
them to be the best that they can be. I am easy to
get along with, yet I do have my moments like
everyone else. But I work hard, play hard and
keep it all positive because to me there is just not
enough room for any negativity.”
Managing a handful of staff is only one part of
Angeles’ overall responsibilities. She also has
to ensure that Saf Keep Storage runs efficiently,
smoothly, safely and profitably while keeping the
facility’s tenants pleased. “There are approximately
35 active tenants, and most of those tenants have
been with us for many years,” explained Angeles.
“We have landscapers, construction crews, a linen
service, interior designers, antique dealers, art
collectors, photographers, and the rest are people
from all different walks of life, which I love. I
have very interesting tenants. I just like people,
and in this business you have to really like people
in order to succeed.”
Saf Keep Storage has open access seven days a
week with convenient everyday office hours to
match. The Redwood City self-storage facility
has many appealing features for its tenants,
including superior customer service, comparable
rates, individually alarmed units, 24/7 video
surveillance, free move-in truck with rental and
drive-up units with lights, plus they sell various
supplies tailored to meet the needs of the individual
tenant. Angeles pays close attention to each of her
tenants at Saf Keep. Their complete satisfaction is
her top priority, along with consistently exceeding
storage rental expectations.
But Angeles also partners with Saf Keep to pay
close attention to the Redwood City community.
“We at Saf Keep are very community-oriented.
We certainly try to donate space whenever we
have the opportunity to do so. I’ve donated
space to the YMCA and Sequoia Hospital. Right
now we are donating space to a school because
they are in the middle of a remodel and need a
temporary storage unit,” explained Angeles. “We
donate space to the Girl Scouts so they have a
place to store their cookies. We have even had a
drive where we collected snacks, comic books,
magazines and other miscellaneous items and
shipped them out. Saf Keep Storage is not a huge
company, but we are always encouraged to do
what we can to help out the community.”
According to Angeles, the major source of
encouragement comes from her boss, the owner
of Saf Keep Storage, Ed Roach. “I love my
boss! I really enjoy working for him. He is a
fabulous man and a great role model,” exclaimed
Angeles. “And he is a fabulous person to work
for. He really cares and supports his community
and his employees.” Roach definitely makes a
difference for his employees, who in return make
a difference for his business.
Not surprisingly, Angeles has had a history of
making that same kind of “difference” in her prior
role as chairman of the board for the Redwood
City–San Mateo Chamber of Commerce in 2007.
“My motto for the year was Shop Chamber,
and Shop Chamber was a program that focused
on referring and keeping business in Redwood
City,” said Angeles. “For example, if I needed
a dry cleaner, then I would look in my chamber
book and choose a local dry cleaner who was a
member. I strived to keep business very active
within the chamber.”
“I was also an ambassador for the chamber
and have now been on the board for 12 years.
Although I am now relatively retired, I am still
on the board and active in the Presidents Club.
It’s a wonderful role to be in because I do not
have the pressure as I used to,” said Angeles.
“The chamber is just a fabulous organization
and I am still fortunate to be with a wonderful
group of people.” Angeles has made lifelong
friends through the chamber, namely other Spice
Girls. “They call us the Redwood City Spice
Girls because we are a fun, crazy bunch and do
fun things together,” said Angeles. “We go away
every year and try to do an adventure. It’s a great
time for us to unwind.”
Saf Keep Storage has added a bit of spice to
her life as well. “I met my husband my first day
on the job,” said Angeles. “My husband is a
photographer and kept all of his equipment here.
He walked into the office, but we did not like each
other at first. It actually took 10 months before we
went on our first date. We went out to lunch and
had such a nice time together. My husband and I
have been together ever since. It’s been 16 years now.”
But times have not always been nice as sugar
and spice for Angeles at Saf Keep Storage. The
recent Costco construction imposed compounding
challenges for the manager. “We hung in there. It
was tough because a majority of the construction
was over the summer, which is usually our
busiest time of the year. It did hurt us a little,”
said Angeles. “But I am definitely happy because
Costco is opened now. They are a wonderful
neighbor to have and generate a lot of traffic,
which helps us.”
Through thick and thin, Angeles is committed
to the ongoing success of her employees and
keeping the business flourishing while preserving
the company’s tradition of pampering all of
the storage tenants. And as for her thoughts on
the city that has totally captured her heart, “I
absolutely love Redwood City. It’s a city that is so
unique and diverse. I find the people of Redwood
City to be very open-minded and communityoriented.
They are always trying to make it a
different, better place to live and work.” There is
an old saying that once you get a “spice” in your
home, you have it forever, and Cheryl Angeles,
that is how Saf Keep Storage and all of Redwood
City feels about you. Here’s to another two decades!
For more information on Saf Keep Storage and
their services, you can call 650-249-4942, visit
www.safkeep.com, or visit their location at 2480
Middlefield Road in Redwood City.
The Spectrum 9