Public Storage, a leading provider of self-storage solutions, recently announced its $2.2B acquisition of Simply Self Storage from Blackstone. The deal, which was finalized this month, marked a significant milestone for both companies and has far-reaching implications for the ever-expanding self-storage market.  This deal is a counter punch to the $11B Extra Space acquisition of Life Storage announced earlier this year.  With this strategic purchase of Simply Self Storage, Public Storage continues to solidify its position as a dominant player in the sector, allowing it to tap into new markets and broaden its customer base within the Simply Self Storage portfolio.  This deal is no surprise to self-storage professionals; the self-storage industry remains a strong segment within the real estate investment market and the acquisition of Simply Self Storage may just be the beginning of Public Storage’s continued consolidation of large industry participants.