SALISBURY — Most people who looked at the former Magic Mart saw an empty building, but one company saw potential.

“It was a large vacant space at what we felt was a prominent location,” said Bill Haymore, vice president of GMS Ventures.

GMS, a company under the umbrella of Goodwill, closed on the property in January. According to Haymore, the plan is to turn the property into indoor, climate-controlled storage units.

The location on Jake Alexander Boulevard is along a major thoroughfare just off the interstate and near both residential and business areas.

“We felt like it was a good location for this type of business,” Haymore said.

Haymore said he and others at GMS felt storage would be a good use of the roughly 90,000 square feet “without re-creating the wheel.”

The building is undergoing renovations. GMS is adding fencing, security, an improved front access, and an overhang in addition to indoor upfits.

“We have done a significant renovation to the building,” Haymore said.

The business will carry the Extra Space Storage brand — a national company — and will have about 650 individual storage units. Haymore said he has been very pleased with the reception from city officials.

“The city has been very favorable toward it, worked very well with us — no issues whatsoever,” he said.

The new business should open near the end of August.

“We look forward to working in the community,” Haymore said.