Treasure Or Trash? ‘Storage Wars’ Returns With New Season That Promises ‘More Fun’ And More ‘Heat’

A brand-new season of the hit A&E show, “Storage Wars” returns tonight, Feb. 28, at 9 p.m. ET, bringing back the world of high-stakes storage auctions, but this time, with bigger risks, bigger rewards, and plenty of fun surprises.

Fan favorite buyers including Brandi Passante, Dave Hester, Ivy Calvin, Lisa DeLario, Dusty and Lupe, Kenny Crossley, and Mary Padian are back in action, competing to uncover hidden treasures while spending as little as possible. Newcomer Emily Pokoj joins the crew in the hopes of shaking things up alongside the seasoned bidders. 

Brandi Passante, long time cast member, had some time to chat with The Blast ahead of the season premiere. She shared what fans can expect from this season, her thoughts on newcomer Emily Pokoj, and some insight into the strategy that helps her win big. 

Season 17 of the hit A&E show “Storage Wars” is hitting everyone’s TV screens tonight. With fierce competition, fresh personalities, and unpredictable excitement that brings fans back for more, the new season promises action, strategy, and mystery as buyers battle to score the ultimate prize.

“Auctioneers Dan and Laura Dotson fire up the crowd as buyers battle to spend the least and score the biggest payoffs,” a description of the season reads. “Brandi Passante keeps everyone guessing with her snarky comments and seasoned instincts, weeding through clutter to spot the best unit of the day.”

Passante, who’s been part of the cast since the very beginning of the show, told The Blast exclusively that fans can expect, “new buyers and some old ones make a comeback.” 

“I feel like we were having a lot more fun this season,” she said. “It seems like a much lighter tone, but every so often in typical ‘Storage Wars’ fashion, the heat does get turned up.” 

With Pokoj joining the cast this season, Passante said she loves that "more tough women are making their way in a predominantly male-driven vocation."

"She's new to the game and very green in my opinion, but very hungry, which is so important in this industry," she added.

When asked what makes this season a must-watch for longtime fans of the show and new viewers, Passante didn’t miss a beat, playfully saying, “Me obviously.” 

“There are surprises in every episode of ‘Storage Wars.’ I’m surprised by every box,” she continued. “I feel like we had a lot of fun and a whole lot of laughs this season, always some unique finds and fierce competition.” 

Passante got her start on the hit reality show when she had already been buying storage units for years to fill the shelves in her store.

"We were approached at an auction to do a sizzle reel for a show. We had no inkling that the show would be successful, especially not 17 seasons successful," she told The Blast. "Being on TV absolutely changes your life exponentially, but I try to maintain as much normalcy as possible."

For someone as seasoned as Passante at bidding on lockers, her strategy depends on the particular circumstances.

"I've been doing this a long time, and I can honestly say my strategy changes daily," she said. "It depends on how I'm feeling that day, what I'm looking for, what the competition looks like, and how much money I have in my pocket. There are a lot of factors."

She further explained that "instinct comes with experience, which is absolutely a benefit," but it's still really just a guessing game, which is where luck plays a part.

Over the years, Passante's strategies going into an auction has shifted. She said that more experience over the years means "the stronger the strategy."

And while this is also a game of pressure going up against familiar rivals, she tries to put more focus on having fun.

"I used to feel pressure to fill shelves at my store, but at this juncture, I try to focus more on the enjoyment of the process and try to have more fun with my days," she said. "If I really need something, I lock in, but I still feel less pressure, which is such a breath of fresh air at this point in my storage career."

Passante said that it takes several months to film one season of "Storage Wars." And throughout her time on the show and purchasing storage units, Passante has discovered quite a few interesting things.

She said that the most valuable item she's discovered up to this point was "the lot that I purchased from the estate sale last season which was an incredible profit." She added that she's made a "good amount of money on the unique, obscure items" she's found in random units over the years.

"I'm still to this day surprised by the items people choose to store," she said. "It's usually the more sinister, seedy items that throw me for a loop."

Part of the fun of buying units can be piecing together the parts in the locker from a stranger's life.

"In the early days, I used to get so wrapped up in the story of how they got to the point of losing the items that they boxed up and paid to store," she said. "I would read the journals and go over the paperwork. I wasted a lot of time. But often, it was fascinating stuff. Honestly, I kind of miss it."

One thing that remains a mystery to her is why fans are so fascinated by the storage auctions year after year.

"I have asked myself that question so many times over the years," she told The Blast. "I think it's a lot of factors - the dynamic of the buyers, the competition, they mystery, the ability to learn about something new, and at the end, someone wins and someone loses."

The new season of "Storage Wars" premieres tonight, Saturday, Feb. 28, with two new episodes back-to-back beginning at 9 p.m. ET on A&E. 

Be sure to stay tuned to see all the storage unit buying fun from Passante and the crew and see just what surprises are in store for the season.