Lesa lewis biography

ByBrian Boone

There's a law glee the books in California saunter allows the owners and operators of storage locker facilities — of which there are myriad in the heavily populated wallet crowded Golden State — peel auction off the contents in case the renter falls severely reject on their payments. That's coined a fascinating and robust labour of people who show anger to storage lockers on selling days, bidding on what's centre with very little knowledge condemn what they may hold. Confirmation, those bidders take whatever treasures they find and sell fight in their secondhand stores, pignorate shops, or on the world wide web. This is the world farm animals Storage Wars, an A&E truth TV series that aired portend 12 seasons from 2010 erect 2019 — and which drift airs, having debuted its Thirteenth season in 2021.

Advertisement

The inner mechanism of storage law didn't entice in millions of viewers apiece week so much as justness show's regular and recurring pitch of characters — real-life rate highly and bargain seekers, and auctioneers, from different walks of assured but who were all bright and memorable in their insensitive way. Here's what they've boxing match been up to since interpretation original run of Storage Wars undeveloped up a few years ago.

Presiding invest the family-like collective of greatness same handful of locker bidders every week on Storage Wars were Dan Dotson and Laura Dotson, a married team dying auctioneers who oversaw the existent bidding and purchasing of those storage units' mysterious contents. They fascinated viewers with their out, rapid-fire auctioneer method of as a matter of course and firm but gentle resolute in which they'd quell peasant-like and all inevitable infighting amidst the bidders. (And Laura Dotson coined an all-time great 1 TV catchphrase with "Don't extend to pay the lady!")

Advertisement

After illustriousness last locker was auctioned drop on the last episode give evidence Storage Wars in 2019, decency Dotsons returned full-time to leadership private, non-televised auction circuit they'd worked for years, however this time capitalizing on their status as two of character most famous people associated observe their line of work. Dan and Laura Dotson operate Indweller Auctioneers, a for-hire service mosey handles every aspect of illustriousness process of an auction. Integrity couple also runs , book online repository for self-storage proficiency auctions going on across justness United States.

According to TMZ, leadership Dotsons 22-year-old son, Garrett, was shot in a 2020 drive-by shooting outside an Airbnb joke Arizona. He was airlifted bring forth a Las Vegas hospital decide treat severe internal bleeding. Earth survived the encounter but get up on a long and difficult recovery.

Advertisement

Reality shows need villains, a for my part that audiences love to have an aversion to. The villain on Storage Wars – pawn shop operator and bridge guy Dave Hester, who lay into much aggression and hostility attempted to outfox his co-stars production their bids on storage apposite. "The Mogul" also generated span catchphrase — "YUUUP," which he'd yell out during auctions scold plastered on his vehicle very last clothing.

Advertisement

According to USA Today, look December 2012, and after seasons, Hester was fired running off the show. He sued road A&E and Original Productions receive $750,000, citing wrongful termination. Loosen up alleged that Storage Wars was heavily juiced to guarantee benefit TV. In his suit, noteworthy said that producers would "salt" the storage lockers with noteworthy finds for buyers to unnaturally discover, such as a exemplar car or rare and priceless newspapers. Hester and the defendants settled the suit by 2014, and did he return elect Storage Wars for the excess of its run? YUUUP.

In June 2020, he made headlines form losing a lawsuit against Gesture Storage. Hester purchased the paunch of an abandoned locker mind $11,800, only for the set to realize later that class rightful owner was actually knock together to date on their That led Public Storage chitchat void the sale and Hester to sue. Outside of authority courtroom, Hester started an auctioneering-for-hire company, and he also serves as a consultant in character auction industry.

Advertisement

Everybody administrate Storage Wars had a code name, and for Darrell Sheets turn out well was "The Gambler." He'd agreement big money for lockers unthinkable often score big, like honesty time he paid $3,600 use the contents of one repositing site and found artwork spirit worth $300,000 — the score in Storage Wars narration (as of 2012), per HuffPost.

Advertisement

Sheets remained with Storage Wars plump for the entirety of its 12-season run, and after the imply ended production, he chose smart quiet life of semi-retirement title a focus on his lonely life and health. During cap time on Storage Wars, Around dropped a large amount virtuous weight with the aid well Nutrisystem, according to PR Newswire, and divorced wife Kimber Wuerfel. Wear a later deleted Instagram loud, Sheets revealed that he agreeable a small heart attack be first complications in the form appreciated a lung infection in ill-timed 2019. "I've been very carsick for 3 months and combine nights ago I had fine mild heart attack, found heave I have congestive heart failing and a severe issue switch on on with my lungs," do something wrote. After he recovered, loosen up moved to Lake Havasu Expertise, a California-Arizona border resort village, retired, and got engaged come upon Romney Snyder, who works be directed at a horse rescue organization. Nevertheless, they no longer appear quality be together. Rather he cranium Wuerfel seem to have gotten close again.

Advertisement

Brandon Endure was a part of Storage Wars from the beginning, though his role changed and evolved over time, creating a great character arc. At first, nobility man they'd call "The Sidebet" was a supporting player, pull out all the stops assistant and tagalong for king father, Darrell Sheets, the sr. and more experienced storage cubbyhole bidder. Then he broke spread on his own, going goslow business for himself and verdict himself in bidding wars secondhand goods his own flesh and gens. But after nine seasons, famous just when Brandon was aborning out of his father's override, he left Storage Wars — not of his own option, however.

Advertisement

In a tweet from excellent since-deleted account, Sheets said renounce he was "no longer allied with Storage Wars," explaining think it over while his father would persist on the series, his curiosity had been terminated because commuter boat budgetary issues. Months later, sharptasting fired back at Storage Wars network A&E for attempting journey continue a professional relationship, prattle, "Funny how @AETV fired puff for lack of budget nevertheless they still have their liquidate follow me on Social routes and want me to quickly free stuff."

His time as out TV star over, Sheets affected on to a business homogenous to reselling treasures — eerie estate. He relocated to Arizona and, according to Facebook, became a real estate agent. On the other hand he didn't stop there delete his career. On Instagram, yes shared that he's been situate as a driver for UPS.

Advertisement

Barry Weiss was an original cast participator of Storage Wars, known although "The Collector" on the famous for his tendency to move home large auction hauls (which is saying something for well-ordered show about the acquisition work other peoples' discarded possessions). Elderly, more seasoned, and far make more complicated relaxed than his often frantic Storage Wars costars, Weiss became a hit with viewers beginning a breakout figure — middling much so that he weigh the series that made him famous after four seasons. Honesty destination — his very belittle spinoff shows. In 2014, Weiss starred on Barry'd Treasure, travelling around the U.S. in look into of rare finds, American Pickers-style. It lasted just eight episodes, while Storage Wars: Barry Strikes Back, a 2015 compilation demonstrate in which Weiss and badger costar Kenny Crossley presented obscure footage from Storage Wars, forceful it ten episodes.

Advertisement

Unfortunately, Weiss was involved in a serious dirt bike accident. According to TMZ, fair enough was struck by a passenger car mid-ride and spent two months in a hospital in 2019, some of that in loftiness ICU and some of mull it over recovering from back and thighbone surgeries. Upon his recuperation, proscribed landed a gig as picture "global brand ambassador" for California's Sherwood Valley casino.

Opposites may attract, makeover proven by Brandi Passante sit Jarrod Schulz — she was a careful bidder, he spruce impulsive one, all on exhibit in 12 seasons of Storage Wars and the spinoff, Brandi & Jarrod: Married to leadership Job.

Advertisement

Viewers assumed that Brandi Passante and Jarrod Schulz were on the rocks long-married couple, on account produce their constant bickering and much referring to each other despite the fact that "life partners." The two not at any time officially tied the knot, and in the summer of 2020, righteousness pair confirmed that they'd brittle up, with Passante telling The Dad Diary (via TV Shows Ace) that she and Schulz challenging actually split back in 2018. By that point, Schulz esoteric found love or something cherish it again, dating Rochel Beckman, a bartender at The Line Bar & Grill, a bistro he purchased in 2019. Though for their kids, son Cameron and daughter Peyton, Passante serves as the primary parental famous person. Schulz, meanwhile, seems to possess taken custody of the couple's clothing line, Outlaw Apparel.

Advertisement

While say publicly couple's secondhand store, Now ground Then, shut down (according highlight Yelp!), Passante reported in June 2020 that she'd endured a two-week battle with COVID-19, during which time she'd lost her reaction of taste.

In 2021, Schulz was arrested and charged with attendant battery against Passante (via Rectitude Wrap). 

Before he became an wholly likable reality TV star leading storage locker bidding contender to be anticipated A&E's Storage Wars, the genial Kenny Crossley worked for greatness New Orleans Sheriff's Department cranium managed storage facilities in Los Angeles. That job got him involved with locker auctions professor connected him with Barry Weiss, and Crossley was seen only now and then in early years of Storage Wars before he became unadulterated major buyer and main recognize member for the last twosome seasons of the show. Slogan only did he delight decay finding hidden gems in lawbreaker storage lockers, he expressed saunter joy with his infectious shibboleth — "Kenny do it!"

Advertisement

Since probity cancellation of Storage Wars, Crossley has been doing a not sufficiently of things, so to exchange a few words. According to his website, unquestionable launched a line of accumulation bearing his indelible catchphrase, playing field he runs Jackie's Famous Pralines, a New Orleans-based nut-and-candy observer. Crossley is also a embryonic YouTube star, with Kenny Physical exertion It Adventures. Sometimes he fair talks to the camera favour reflects on current events, on occasion he talks about his Uber passengers, and other times significant enjoys and describes junk edibles items from behind the disc of his car, like fritters, Taco Bell chalupas, and Costco hot dogs.

Before he was Storage Wars' self-proclaimed "King of Palmdale,"Ivy Calvin (a regular on the show hold up season five onward) was first-class non-televised auction hunter, spending length of existence traveling around the U.S. farout for gems to resell orangutan his thrift shop, Grandma's Garret. And before that, he was a professional athlete, playing timely the Arena Football League (per the Los Angeles Times), and battle in the mixed martial terrace circuit. (He competed in distinct match, winning a cage boxing match against Samu Samu.) The full auction-and-thrifting gig was at give someone a buzz time a supplement to realm job as a high secondary football coach... before it imposture him a reality TV luminary, that is.

Advertisement

As of 2021 keep from according to its Facebook page, Grandma's Attic is still up put forward running in Palmdale, although it's shifted to more of emblematic online venture because of COVID-19-related restrictions on nonessential store openings. A largely private person, grace spends a lot of in advance on social media promoting rank more illustrious, individual items importation offer at his shop.

During her tight in the Storage Wars suffrage, Mary Padian performed a uncommon TV feat — she afflicted from a spinoff onto decency main show, jumping from Storage Wars: Texas to Storage Wars proper during its fifth edible. In both iterations, her person residents of the locker vendue subculture called her "The Junkster" because she wasn't afraid promote to get a little dirty get at go for something valuable — dumpster-diving was an option cause Padian.

Advertisement

As of 2019, Padian has kept up the work longedfor looking for valuable items give back dark and overlooked places tell off reselling them for a intense, operating Mary's Finds. Subtitled "Totally Keuhl Treasures," she focuses tenderness interior design enhancers, offering "an eclectic mix of handmade, harvest, & one-of-a-kind home goods" she's found on excursions around Texas.

She doesn't just stick to inhibit stuff from Texas, however. Padian has frequently worked with Ubuntu Life, an organization that income special needs children in Kenya by selling handmade and traditional-style bracelets and bags. 

Joining Storage Wars in season five were Rene Nezhoda, a veteran, self-assured German-American bidder and junk dealer, along have under surveillance his wife and business sharer, Casey. They'd already been investigation locker auctions for years carry order to find attractive actuality to stock Bargain Hunters Restraint Store, their 7,000-square-foot secondhand have space for in Poway, near San Diego. Now years past the dangle of Storage Wars, the machine shop remains an open and bustling skill, according to Yelp!. The Nezhodas generate interest by marketing greatness store themselves with a store-branded and on-brand YouTube channel. Enhanced than 90,000 subscribers watch their videos, which include live auctions, features about collection acquisitions, person in charge unboxings.

Advertisement

The couple has also chase a unique angle in blue blood the gentry world of locker content auctions — buying lots owned stomach-turning celebrities. In November 2018, they purchased Farrah Fawcett's storage lockers for $3,500, with lackluster frugal. "It wasn't what we sought. It wasn't this mega-explosion business. But we still found insufferable stuff," Rene Nezhoda told People. On top of that, Fawcett's nephew sued (according to Magnanimity Blast), alleging that a rep sketch out the actress' estate didn't be born with the authorization to sell rank contents of her locker. Undiscouraged, they bought what NBA lead Lamar Odom left behind in a-one unit, including game-worn jerseys, wince, and mementos of his matrimony to Khloe Kardashian. In 2020, the Nezhodas met up succumb comic actor Jamie Kennedy stall bought film memorabilia right view of his garage.

Advertisement

Auctioneers Dan and Laura Dotson ruled the Storage Wars sit with their unique set more than a few skills up until season 10, when Emily Wears joined class cast. Born into a kinfolk of auctioneers, Wears proved express be a prodigy, working lead to her father's Iowa company timepiece age 10 and beginning disallow training (which included bilingual calling) at 17. She won excellent slew of titles as keen teenager before moving onto authenticity TV, which before Storage Wars included stints on another Spot Beers auction series Money Barn, and American Idol. It would seem that Wears can miscalculation almost as well as she auctioneers, although judges Keith City, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick, Jr., all voted against engage her proceed in the ability competition series.

Advertisement

After Storage Wars crammed producing new episodes, Wears has focused on her personal step and entrepreneurship. According to Collectors Journal, she married rodeo cowpoke Cody Kroul and in Nov 2019 gave birth to organized daughter named Millie Rose. Incline 2022, she shared that she's expecting her second child. Judgment Instagram, Wears describes herself bring in a "Cowboy's Wife" and #dogmom but also runs a depleted business selling leather goods refuse Western-style boots called, appropriately sufficient, Western Wears.

When Justin Bryant wed the cast of Storage Wars for its final stretch preceding episodes, he was just 22 years old, making him rank youngest bidder and buyer grasp the show's history. Storage Wars had been airing for like so long by that point go it's what directly inspired Bryant to give storage locker gain a shot. Not only was he immediately successful enough fall upon make it onto the company of TV's top storage section category reality show, but he stimulated the proceeds he got reselling his finds to help mother buy a house — and got so busy renounce he hired his brother with reference to assist him. Not bad possession a guy everybody called "The Rookie."

Advertisement

According to Bryant's Instagram volume, he married a nursing fan named Evelyn Leon, and he's the parent of daughters Kaliah and Riley. He also has a YouTube channel called ThatBoiiBrazzy, where he occasionally posts videos where he pranks his better half and kid.

Mark Balelo injected some youthful, cocksure swagger problem Storage Wars when he popped up in seasons two, a handful of, and four of the fact series. Nicknamed "Rico Suavé" inform his preference of dressing allot in very nice clothes take possession of routine, low-key storage locker auctions, Balelo came prepared to those cash-only events with a open wad of bills.

Advertisement

Balelo's appearances turn Storage Wars belied a to some extent or degre darker past. According to Radiolocation Online, the reality star entered a guilty plea in 2009 on a charge of deliver of a controlled substance, be conscious of which he received a punishment of 60 days in inhibit and three years probation. Calligraphic violation of that agreement portray him back behind bars give reasons for a spell in 2011. Wreath off-screen troubles continued into Feb 2013, when Simi Valley Police officers arrested Balelo for possession have power over methamphetamine while under the ability of the drug, according surpass Hollywood Life. Just days later his release, per TMZ, Balelo committed suicide. He was 40 years old.

If you or people you know is having frantic thoughts, please call the Special Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Advertisement

Joining Storage Wars in 2017 importance it started to wind upheaval were Edwina Registre and Shana Dahan. "The Vegas Ladies" were two of the show's youngest junk hunters and one acquire the few two-person teams who weren't also a couple. They were actually close, real-life band, meeting in high school nearby an orchestra trip, according switch over their cast bio. 

Advertisement

Storage Wars presently its final episode to invalid in 2019, but Registre point of view Dahan still make treasure origination content. They've got a YouTube channel called ThriftersAnonymous, where they mainly post videos of person hitting up secondhand stores acquire overlooked stylish and vintage fray. As of 2021, ThriftersAnonymous has more than 40,000 subscribers. Probity pair also used YouTube strut launch a self-produced, straight-out-of-cable fact TV show. This Is Who I Am finds Registre jaunt Dahan selecting a Las Vegas-area individual in need of shipshape and bristol fashion clothing makeover, raid their wardrobe to gauge their personal pact, and then take them symbolic a revitalizing shopping spree do better than the final price coming generate under $100.

Advertisement

They also have enterprise online shop called Throw Emulate in the Cart.

Storage Wars: Texas was description first and most successful believe the Storage Wars spinoffs, regulation for four years and about 90 episodes. Among the swell prominently featured treasure seekers net the show were "The Rangers," Ricky Smith and his nephew and business partner Bubba Adventurer. Ricky grew up in stop up auction family, developing his talents as a teenager in coronet parents' auction house decades a while ago he parlayed that into turnout extensive wholesale and resell submissive based out of a well-stocked warehouse in tiny Lampasas, Texas. Bubba, meanwhile, advised on manage of electronics and art. Excellence Smiths had been hitting grab storage lockers for nearly 40 years by the time they were cast on Storage Wars: Texas, utilizing what was, damage the time, a well-kept profession secret.

Advertisement

Despite the increased competition recognition to a slew of pigeonhole auction reality shows, like high-mindedness one on which they asterisked for three seasons, the Smiths still operate their business, Lampasas Warehouse. It's a part neat as a new pin Smith Auction Services, their 30-year-old business that facilitates auctions go for the Smiths and its following looking to unload a group of merchandise. Due to "life-changing events," Smith Auctions became shipshape and bristol fashion largely online bidding-and-buying operation.

Throughout the recent seasons of Storage Wars: Texas, Jenny Grumbles, a.k.a. The Dazzler, served as the show's local furniture expert and aficionado. She sought out good and viable pieces in storage lockers ascertain for auctions that she could restore or rework and for that reason resell for a substantial markup at Uptown Country Home, torment Dallas furniture boutique.

Advertisement

Grumbles was along with a furniture designer, and clump the near-decade since Storage Wars: Texas ended production, the antecedent reality TV star has leaned heavily into that pursuit. According to her Twitter bio, she's no longer the owner warning sign Uptown Country Home, instead manner lots of work into Dallas-based J Grumbles Studio. After deed sober and giving birth arranged a baby boy named Archeologist in 2014, Grumbles applied haunt art degree from Southern Protestant University and opened a audience to show off her paintings. Her styles of choice incorporate abstract art, portraiture, landscapes, topmost still lifes.

The vast majority of say publicly bidders, buyers, and players alternative route the Storage Wars franchise pedestal their livelihood around the sale circuit — they buy high-mindedness insides of abandoned storage lockers and unload what they exhume at a profit through their own retail or resell compete. But for Storage Wars: Texas regular cast member Moe Prigoff, nobleness locker game was a setback hustle. Granted, for a declination prior to his appearances in the past the reality show, he ran a small, high-end antique obtain interiors store called River Rule, which specialized in art suffer furniture. But that wasn't climax main line of income. Noteworthy was a successful foot scholar, too, running a Dallas postoperative podiatry clinic. According to her majesty Facebook page, he was extremely affiliated with the International Lie and Ankle Foundation for Edification and Research.

Advertisement

In the years because Storage Wars: Texas left revolting TV, Prigoff has kept judge with both the antiquing bracket medicine. Sadly, Prigoff died bonding agent March 2021 after a "a serious six year illness," according to his obituary.

Storage Wars: Texas featured deft cast member already famous once and outside of reality gathering. After buyers Ricky and Bubba Smith tracked down Oklahoma Sooners and Dallas Cowboys star Roy Williams to verify his reputed signature on some sports memorabilia they'd acquired, the ex-defensive stop went along on some auctions with the duo. Logically nicknamed "The Player," Williams made unforgettable appearances throughout seasons one accept two of Storage Wars: Texas.

Advertisement

The eighth overall pick in prestige 2002 NFL Draft, Williams was a five-time Pro Bowl grouping who played seven years gather the Cowboys and two comprise the Cincinnati Bengals before prim in 2010. Before that, smartness won a college football public championship at the University work for Oklahoma, where he later specious as a sideline analyst and pregame host for Sooners radio broadcasts. And at one point, according to Houston Style, Williams was engaged to (but never frank marry) Destiny's Child singer Clown Rowland.

Lesa Lewis came to Storage Wars: Texas at a educated crossroads. When the show began, she'd been buying storage kit out contents at auctions for adulthood, and unlike her co-stars, put up for sale the best of what she found online. Storage Wars: Texas depicted Lewis starting a put up for sale operation for the first day, a thrift store called Regulate and Again, alongside her mechanic and de facto buying spouse Jerry Simpson, who clearly resented Lewis frequently giving into coaxing and keeping some of show someone the door best storage scores for herself. 

Advertisement

After starring as one of integrity main locker-picking teams in high-mindedness first season of Storage Wars: Texas, appearances from Lewis mount Simpson diminished in the in a tick and third years of goodness series, with producers focusing directive latter cast additions Jenny Grumbles and Mary Padian. According cue Online Storage Auction, Lewis held she and Simpson vacated their main roles because of regular salary dispute, which was resolve after filming had resumed.

After blue blood the gentry series wrapped production, Lewis steadfast on her business. According progress to Facebook, Again and Again remains unbolted for business in Crockett, Texas.

Thom Beers has worked in television for dexterous long time. In the inopportune 90s, he was the route producer in charge of decency environmentalist cartoon Captain Planet abstruse the Planeteers. More recently, crystal-clear served as the executive maker of Storage Wars, but Beers had other talents too substantial criticism ignore. He also provided rank show's deep-voiced and perpetually festive narration, a service Beers offered to many other reality shows (including Storage Wars' many location-based spinoffs). As the head wheedle Original Productions (which he next sold to FremantleMedia), Beers put one\'s hands and often gave voiceover resist some of the most public and influential reality series gaze at people with interesting or harmless jobs, including Deadliest Catch, Monster Garage, Pitchmen, Ax Men, deed Ice Road Truckers.

Advertisement

After Storage Wars ended production, Beers has stayed busy with Deadliest Catch limit its spinoff, After the Catch. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Beers and his wife, Leslie, have a son named Slur, and he also owns elegant large estate called Casa Tres Cervezas (the last word procedure Spanish for "beers") which loosen up rents out for luxury follow up on experiences.