By Rob Sabo
When Chris Waddle started thinking about retirement from the Reno (Nevada) Police Department back in 2015, he imagined picking up a small side business to keep himself busy. Storage seemed practical — he needed space for his own belongings, and he figured others probably did too. What he didn’t expect was that his “retirement project” would grow into a thriving, multi‑facility enterprise.
A decade later, Admiral Toy Storage celebrated the opening of a new 95,000‑square‑foot indoor facility on Innovation Drive in south Reno, marking a major milestone for the company Waddle launched in a modest 40,000‑square‑foot warehouse on Linda Way in Sparks, Nev.
Waddle, who retired as a detective in 2024 after 21 years on the force, said the business took off faster than he ever imagined. Leveraging relationships from his police career, he filled his first 10,000 square feet within months. The real turning point came when Jeff Holleman, formerly with Reno Toy Storage and later founder of High Altitude Watersports, moved 150 boats into Waddle’s facility.
The surge in demand arrived just in time. Waddle had signed a lease with rising rent and was preparing to seek investors or SBA financing. Instead, the sudden influx of boats pushed the business into profitability and reshaped its direction. What began as simple “toy storage” quickly evolved into a full suite of concierge services: RV and boat detailing, RV interior cleaning, transportation and even vacation prep like stocking motorhomes before trips.
Some clients rely on Admiral Toy Storage for more unusual needs — such as the Airstream owner who doesn’t own a tow vehicle. Others hire Waddle to transport RVs for resale or move high‑end boats across the country. “Just last year I took a boat to Indianapolis,” he said, noting that many large vessels also travel to San Diego for specialized repairs.
As demand grew, Admiral Toy Storage expanded into the entire 120,000‑square‑foot Linda Way building and later added a second 57,000‑square‑foot site. When the lease on the 
satellite location expired, Waddle opted to consolidate and grow in south Reno instead.
With help from Logic Commercial Real Estate, the company secured a Class A warehouse with wide column spacing ideal for maneuvering boats and RVs. Though the rent is higher than the older Sparks facility, Waddle said the location — closer to residential growth and freeway access — makes the investment worthwhile.
Today, Admiral Toy Storage manages 217,000 square feet across Reno and Sparks, housing roughly 100 cars, a similar number of RVs, and several hundred boats. The new south Reno building still has 35,000 to 40,000 square feet available, plus 3,000 square feet of office space Waddle plans to sublet.
The company employs five people, most of them family: Waddle’s mother came out of retirement to help, his brother manages the property and his nephew oversees warehouse operations. Only one employee isn’t related.
Growth has required outside capital, and the workload sometimes feels like more than a retirement hobby. But Waddle insists that staying busy is essential — especially for former law enforcement officers.
“Retired cops who don’t have something to do don’t last long,” he said. “I retired at almost 53. I’ve got a lot of years left, and I need to stay active.”
Even with the demands of expansion, Waddle still makes time for travel — with trips planned to New Zealand, Australia, and the Caribbean. “I’ll never be bored,” he said. “And that’s how you keep a retired cop alive.”
Rob Sabo is a contributor to the Nevada Appeal.
