DETROIT—Saying he sees a bright future for the Midtown and New Center areas, Detroit native Anthony Jones is ready to get to work at U-Haul Moving and Storage of New Center Detroit. As the finishing touches are put on the old Nabisco building that U-Haul is repurposing as a moving and self-storage center, Jones has been tapped to run the facility, and he can’t wait to roll up his sleeves and get to work.
“I’m very excited,” Jones said. “I grew up in Livernois and still live there, and I’m a Wayne State student, so I can’t wait to play a part in the rebirth of the area.”
Currently, Jones is the general manager at U-Haul Moving and Storage at 7 Mile and Livernois. He’ll have the same title at U-Haul Moving and Storage of Detroit when it opens this summer. So, what excites him the most about the new opportunity?
“Being able to embark on something new and help in the renovation of Midtown,” Jones pointed out. “There are a lot of new housing opportunities in the area and a lot of young people are moving here. This will be the place to be in a few years, and I’m proud that U-Haul is investing in the city.
“You see and hear all of the bad things about Detroit,” Jones continued, “but U-Haul isn’t running away. We could have built a brand-new building, but we decided to repurpose a historic building. I’ve seen firsthand how U-Haul helps to bring life back to the city—MY city.”
Perfect for the job
“Anthony is the perfect person for this job, because he’s from this area and is very familiar with the community,” said Phil Ryan, U-Haul area district vice president. “He’s young and energetic, and I know he can’t wait to get started.”
“Anthony is a young man who is very driven and wants to succeed,” added David Ruff, president of U-Haul Company of Detroit. “While some people may be intimidated by the thought of running a new center that is getting so much attention, Anthony is looking forward to the challenge.”
There are no U-Haul trucks, trailers or self-storage rooms to rent at the facility—yet. But Jones still can be found at U-Haul Moving and Storage of Detroit at least a couple times a week.
“I help out wherever I can,” he noted. “I run errands for the crew, wax the floors, basically just give them an extra body to do whatever needs to be done. I can’t wait for this center to be open!”
Are you excited about what Detroit has in store for Jones? What do you think he will enjoy most about living in Detroit?
