"The cherry on the top of the cake" is how Martin Tabor describes his most recently launched Doral project, Abby Mini Storage.

(Left to Right) Abby Mini Storage Assistant Manager Yumar Sarria, Manager Jeanette Cage and Owner Martin Tabor

Tabor has been engaged in property development in Doral for thirty years. He accumulated 80 acres of land south of NW 41 St, east of NW 107 Ave and north of NW 33 St, most of which he eventually sold off.

(Left to Right) Abby Mini Storage Assistant Manager Yumar Sarria, Owner Martin Tabor and Manager Jeanette Cage

Panalpina, Hellman, the Baymont Inn, Marriott Extended Stay, Sears Parts & Service, Wendy's, Schlotsky's Deli, Bruschetta & Co., and a Chevron station all occupy land that Tabor owned and prepared for development.

So why did Tabor choose to build Abby Mini Storage on his own, rather than just sell off another land parcel?

"Ninety percent of Abby Mini Storage business is with customers within a radius of three miles," he explained. "It's truly a local enterprise, and in the case of Doral, it is designed to serve the residential, commercial and industrial mix that makes up this area. My development efforts have been aimed at seeing the fruits of my labor serve the local community, and Abby Mini Storage does just that."

The multi-storied, air-conditioned facility itself is state-of-the-art, with floors, walls, and roof all constructed of concrete, and an elaborate drainage system to prevent flooding.

Tabor quipped: "The next time we're facing a major hurricane, I'll ride out the storm here."

In addition, it is brightly lighted and protected by extensive surveillance systems. Customers gain access to the facility with individualized access codes and their comings and goings are recorded.

Besides providing secure space, Abby Mini Storage offers what Tabor calls "full service self-service."
This includes Ryder truck rentals and packing materials of every type for sale on the premises, freight elevators for easy access to all floors, and upscale rest rooms.

It also includes friendly staff who are attuned to providing customer service.

There are already 580 tenants using the 60,000 sq. ft. of storage. Another 80,000 sq. ft. will be built, which will include special areas for storage of wine and furs.

Besides neighborhood residents, the tenants include some of the largest commercial enterprises in Doral and major retailers, who use the facility for storing files, supplies, excess inventory and seasonal displays.

Tabor sees his immediate task as simply, "educating people as to the many ways a mini storage can be useful. It's designed to be far more

than temporary storage in the process of a move. It is the storage closet people don't have to have at their own place."

Doral's current state of development is the result of a gestation period that lasted a generation. Tabor has been involved since conception.

He vividly recalls, for example, how critical it was to have the NW 41 St Turnpike interchange built, and how Dade County's public works department cooperated with developers in the area, himself included, to acquire the right of way to build major arterial roads through what was then marshes and pastures.

"Doral didn't just happen," remarked Tabor. "It took a unified effort by the public and private sector to make Doral into a first class example of integrated land use. Doral is a rare case of property development close in to a major metropoli"