U-Haul® and the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce announced that they are hosting a opening event from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on January 11, 2023 to unveil the retail and indoor self-storage facility at U-Haul Moving & Storage of the Emerald Coast at 200 Irwin Ave. Renovations to the 138,000-square-foot facility include nearly 800 indoor self-storage units with high-tech security features and climate-control options. Storage customers can take advantage of extended-hours access, drive-in load/unload areas; gated and covered boat and RV storage; ADA-accessible units; free use of utility carts; U-Box® portable storage containers; U-Haul Truck Share 24/7®; propane; hitch accessories and professional hitch installation; and more.

U-Haul acquired the property in 2019. Acquisition of the former Kmart was driven by U-Haul Corporate Sustainability initiatives: U-Haul supports infill developments to help local communities lower their carbon footprint. The adaptive reuse of existing buildings reduces the amount of energy and resources required for new-building materials and helps cities reduce their unwanted inventory of unused buildings.

By repurposing this building, U-Haul has prevented the use of 1,727 tons of metal manufacturing and transportation (the amount of steel used to make 1,741 passenger cars); avoided 6,174 tons of new concrete pours (enough to create 125 miles of concrete blocks); kept 8,067 tons of building and demolition debris out of landfills (avoiding 310 dump trucks traveling 6,516 miles); and stopped 9,413,095 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere (the carbon emissions of 722 large SUVs or pickup trucks for one year). Rome intends to hire at least 20 Team Members to staff the store. U-Haul will look to hire locally to promote job growth within the Fort Walton Beach community.

U-Haul, ranked as a leading veteran-friendly business on the 2022 "Best for Vets: Employers" list by The Military Times, actively recruits veterans and gives them preference in the hiring process.