<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT  effective as of April 1, 2001, by and between  Storage USA,
Inc., a Tennessee  corporation  (the "Company"), and Richard B. Stern (the
"Executive").


                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive to serve as the
Senior Vice President, Development & Construction of the Company; and

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive each deem it necessary and
desirable to execute a written document setting forth the terms and conditions
of said relationship.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual obligations
hereinafter set forth the parties agree as follows:

         1.       Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following definitions:

                  (a)      "1993 Omnibus Stock Plan" means the Company's 1993
Omnibus Stock Plan, as amended.

                  (b)      "1995  Employee  Stock  Purchase and Loan Plan" means
the Company's  1995 Employee  Stock Purchase and Loan Plan, as amended.

                  (c)      "1996  Officers'  Stock Option Loan Program"  means
the Company's  1996  Officers'  Stock Option Loan Program, as amended.

                  (d)      "Arbitrators" means the arbitrators selected to
conduct any arbitration proceeding in connection with any disputes arising out
of or relating to this Agreement.

                  (e)      "Award Period" means any period in which the
Company's performance is measured in connection with its Shareholder Value Plan.

                  (f)      "Award Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section
4(b) of this Agreement.

                  (g)      "Base  Salary"  means the annual  salary to be paid
to Executive as set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement.

                  (h)      "Benefit Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section
4(c) of this Agreement.
<PAGE>

                  (i)      "Company"  means  Storage USA,  Inc., a Tennessee
corporation,  and any successor to its business and/or assets which assumes and
agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

                  (j)      "Company Shares" means the shares of common stock of
the Company or any securities of a successor company which shall have replaced
such common stock.

                  (k)      "Executive" means the person identified in the
preamble paragraph of this Agreement.

                  (l)      "Fair Market Value" means, on any given date, the
closing sale price of the common stock of the Company on the New York Stock
Exchange on such date, or, if the New York Stock Exchange shall be closed on
such date, the next preceding date on which the New York Stock Exchange shall
have been open.

                  (m)      "Good Reason" means any of the following:

                           (i) a removal of the Executive from Executive's
                           position as Executive may hold from time to time
                           pursuant to Section 2 hereof, except in connection
                           with a Termination with Cause, as a result of the
                           Executive's death or Permanent Disability or by
                           Voluntary Termination;

                           (ii) a reduction in the Executive's Base Salary as in
                           effect on the date hereof; or as the same may be
                           increased from time to time, which reduction treats
                           Executive differently than other similarly situated
                           executives or singles out or discriminates against
                           Executive; or modifying, suspending, discontinuing,
                           or terminating any Award Plan or Benefit Plan in a
                           manner which treats Executive differently than other
                           similarly situated employees or singles out or
                           discriminates against Executive;

                           (iii) the relocation of the Company's  principal
                           executive offices to a location outside a thirty-mile
                           radius of Memphis,  Tennessee or the  Company's
                           requiring  the  Executive to be based at any place
                           other than a location  within a  thirty-mile radius
                           of Memphis,  Tennessee  (unless such relocation  of
                           Executive  is:  (i)  for  good  business  reasons,
                           in  connection  with Executive's promotion;  (ii)
                           otherwise approved by Executive; or (iii) in
                           connection with the relocation,  for good business
                           reason(s),  of the entire  department or function for
                           which Executive is responsible),  except for
                           reasonably  required travel on the Company's
                           business;
<PAGE>

                           (iv) any material breach by the Company of any
                           provision of this Agreement;

                           (v) any purported termination of Executive's
                           employment by the Company which is not effected
                           pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3; or

                           (vi) the failure of the Company to obtain an
                           agreement reasonably satisfactory to Executive from
                           any successor or assign of the Company to assume and
                           agree to perform this Agreement.

                  (n) "Option(s)" means any options issued pursuant to the
Company's 1993 Omnibus Stock Plan, or any other stock option plan adopted by the
Company, any option granted with respect to Partnership Units, or any option
granted under the plan of any successor company that replaces or assumes the
Company's or the Partnership's options.

                  (o) "Partnership" means SUSA Partnership, L.P.

                  (p) "Partnership Unit(s)" means limited partnership interests
of the Partnership.

                  (q) "Permanent Disability" means a complete physical or mental
inability, confirmed by a licensed physician, to perform the services described
in Section 2 of the Agreement that continues for a period of six (6) consecutive
months.

                  (r) "Plan Loan(s)" means any loan extended by the Company to
Executive pursuant to the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase and Loan Plan, or any
other similar plan or program adopted by the Company during the Term of this
Agreement.

                  (s) "Restricted Stock" means any restricted stock issued
pursuant to the Company's 1993 Omnibus Stock Plan, or any other Award Plan
adopted by the Company, or any restricted stock issued under the plan of any
successor company that replaces or assumes the Company's grants of restricted
stock.

                  (t) "Retirement Age" means the Executive's sixty-fifth (65)
birthday.

                  (u) "Salary Continuation" shall have the meaning set out in
Section 8.a.

                  (v) "Self-Storage Business" means the business of acquiring,
developing, constructing, franchising, owning or operating self-storage
facilities.

                  (w) "Self-Storage Property" means any real estate upon which
the Self-Storage Business is being conducted.
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                  (x) "Shareholder Value Plan" means the Company's Shareholder
Value Plan, as amended.

                  (y) "SVU Grant" means the total number of shareholder value
units granted to the Executive pursuant to the Company's Shareholder Value Plan.

                  (z) "SVU Value" means the value of each shareholder value unit
based upon certain performance measures as set forth in the Company's
Shareholder Value Plan.

                  (aa) "Term" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3 of
this Agreement.

                  (bb) "Termination Date" means the date employment of Executive
is terminated, which date shall be: (i) in the case of Executive's Permanent
Disability, thirty (30) days after a Termination Notice is given and Executive
does not return to the full-time performance of his duties within such thirty
(30) day period; or (ii) in all other instances, the date specified as the
Termination Date in the Termination Notice, which date shall not be less than
thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days from the date the Termination Notice
is given.

                  (cc) "Termination Notice" means a written notice of
termination of employment by Executive or the Company.

                  (dd) "Termination With Cause" means the termination of the
Executive's employment by the Company for any of the following reasons:

                           (i)   the Executive's conviction of a felony;

                           (ii)  the  Executive's  theft, embezzlement,
                           misappropriation of or intentional infliction of
                           material damage to the Company's property or business
                           opportunity;

                           (iii)  the Executive's  intentional  breach of the
                           noncompetition or  non-solicitation provisions
                           contained in Section 9 of this Agreement; or

                           (iv) the Executive's ongoing willful neglect of or
                           failure to perform his duties hereunder or his
                           ongoing willful failure or refusal to follow any
                           reasonable, unambiguous duly adopted written
                           direction of the Company that is not inconsistent
                           with the description of the Executive's duties set
                           forth in Section 2, if such willful neglect or
                           failure is materially damaging or materially
                           detrimental to the business and operations of the
<PAGE>

                           Company; provided that Executive shall have received
                           written notice of such failure and shall have
                           continued to engage in such failure after thirty (30)
                           days following receipt of such notice from the
                           Company, which notice specifically identifies the
                           manner in which the Company believes that Executive
                           has engaged in such failure.

                           For purposes of this subsection, no act, or failure
                           to act, shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or
                           omitted to be done, by Executive not in good faith,
                           and without reasonable belief that such action or
                           omission was in the best interest of the Company.

                  (ee) "Termination Without Cause" means the termination of the
Executive's employment by the Company for any reason other than: (i) Termination
With Cause; or (ii) termination by the Company due to Executive's death or
Permanent Disability.

                  (ff) "Uniform Arbitration Act" means the Uniform Arbitration
Act, Tennessee Code Annotated ss. 29-5-391 et seq., as amended.

                  (gg) "Voluntary Termination" means the Executive's voluntary
termination of his employment hereunder for any reason other than Good Reason.

         2. Employment; Services. The Company, SUSA-TN, LLC and Partnership
shall employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be so employed, in the
capacity of Senior Vice President, Development & Construction of the Company, or
such other position which offers at least a comparable level of responsibility
and authority to which the Chief Executive Officer may elect to assign Executive
from time to time, to serve for the Term hereof, subject to earlier termination
as hereinafter provided. The Executive shall devote such amount of his time and
attention to the Company's affairs as are necessary to perform his duties to the
Company in his capacity as Senior Vice President, Development & Construction.
The Executive shall have authority and responsibility with respect to his
functional area of responsibility within the Company, consistent with direction
from his immediate supervisor.

         3. Term; Termination.

                  (a) The term of the Executive's employment hereunder shall be
one (1) year and shall commence on April 1, 2001 and shall be extended
automatically, for so long as the Executive remains employed by the Company
hereunder, on the first day of each month beginning April 1, 2002 for an
additional one-month period (such period, as it may be extended from time to
time, being herein referred to as the "Term"), unless terminated earlier in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, to the effect that on the first day
of each month, the remaining term of this Agreement and the Executive's
employment hereunder shall be one (1) year, but shall in no event extend beyond
the Retirement Age.
<PAGE>

                  (b) Any purported termination of employment by Executive or
the Company shall be communicated by a Termination Notice. The Termination
Notice shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon and set forth the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis
for termination. If the party receiving the Termination Notice notifies the
other party prior to the Termination Date that a dispute exists concerning the
termination, the Termination Date shall be extended until the dispute is finally
determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding
arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction. The Termination Date shall be extended by a notice of
dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such
notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence.
Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, the Company will continue to
pay Executive his full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the
dispute was given and Executive shall continue as a participant in all Award
Plans and Benefit Plans in which Executive participated when the Termination
Notice giving rise to the dispute was given, until the dispute is finally
resolved in accordance with this subsection. Amounts paid under this subsection
are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be
offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

         4.       Compensation.

                  (a) Base Salary. During the Term, the Company shall pay the
Executive for his services a Base Salary of $175,000, to be paid consistent with
the general payroll practices of the Company, such Base Salary being subject to
any increases or reductions approved by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company; provided however, that any such reductions may not treat Executive
differently than similarly situated executives or otherwise single out or
discriminate against Executive. Executive agrees that, consistent with Company
policy as of the date hereof, Executive does not accrue any vacation or sick
pay. In the event such policy is changed to provide for such an accrual, this
Agreement will be amended to provide for such change.

                  (b) Award Plans. During the Term, the Executive shall also be
eligible for additional compensation in the form of a cash bonus, shares of
stock in the Company, Partnership Units, Restricted Stock or Options, and shall
be eligible to participate in the Company's 1993 Omnibus Stock Plan, 1995
Employee Stock Purchase and Loan Plan, 1996 Officers' Stock Option Loan Program,
Shareholder Value Plan, and any other stock option, incentive compensation,
profit participation, bonus or extra compensation plan that is adopted by the
Company and in which the Company's executive officers generally participate
(collectively, "Award Plans"), but payments and/or awards are not "entitlements"
and shall be paid or made consistent with the terms of such Award Plans. For
example, if the Company's bonus plan provides that a bonus is only payable if
certain objectives are met, Executive shall only be paid such bonus if the
objectives are met.
<PAGE>

             (c) Benefit Plans. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to
participate in, and to all rights and benefits provided by, each and every
health, life, medical, dental, disability, insurance and welfare plan maintained
by the Company including, without limitation, the benefits that are maintained
from time to time by the Company for the benefit of Executive, the executives of
the Company generally or for the Company's employees generally, provided that
Executive is eligible to participate in such plan under the eligibility
provisions thereof that are generally applicable to the participants thereof
(collectively, "Benefit Plans").

             (d) Overall Qualification. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed as preventing the Company from modifying, suspending, discontinuing or
terminating any of the Company Benefit Plans or Award Plans without notice or
liability to Executive so long as: (i) the modification, suspension,
discontinuation or termination of any such plan is authorized by and performed
in accordance with the specific provisions of such plan; and (ii) such
modification, suspension, discontinuation or termination is taken generally with
respect to all similarly situated employees of the Company and does not single
out or discriminate against Executive.

         5. Expenses. The Company recognizes that the Executive will have to
incur certain out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to travel
expenses, related to his services and the Company's business, and the Company
agrees to reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses necessarily
incurred by him in the performance of his duties upon presentation of a voucher
or documentation indicating the amount and business purposes of any such
expenses; provided that Executive complies with the Company's policies and
procedures regarding business expenses.

         6. Voluntary  Termination;  Termination  With Cause.  If: (i) the
Executive  ceases to be an employee of the  Company on  account of a  Voluntary
Termination;  or (ii) there  shall be a  Termination With Cause,  the Executive
shall not be entitled to any  compensation  after the Termination  Date of such
Voluntary  Termination or Termination With Cause (except Base Salary accrued but
unpaid on the Termination Date of such event).

         7. Death or Disability. Executive's employment with the Company shall
terminate upon the Executive's death or Permanent Disability. Upon such
termination, the Company shall continue to pay the Executive or his heirs,
devisees, executors, legatees or personal representatives, as appropriate, Base
Salary then in effect for one (1) year from the Termination Date. The Company
shall also pay any amounts due pursuant to the terms of any Benefit Plans (as
appropriate) and Award Plans in which Executive was a participant, including,
without limitation, the pro rata amount of any bonus to be paid to Executive for
the fiscal year in which Executive was terminated. In addition, in the event of
a termination due to Executive's Permanent Disability, Executive shall be
permitted to participate in, and have all rights and benefits provided by, all
Benefit Plans which Executive was eligible to participate in immediately prior
to the Termination Date (to the extent such participation is possible under the
laws then pertaining to such Benefit Plans), for one (1) year following the
Termination Date.
<PAGE>

         8. Termination Without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason. Executive's
employment with the Company is at will, consequently, the Company may terminate
Executive for any reason, or no reason at all, at any time and Executive may
resign his employment with the Company at any time; provided that, upon
termination of Executive's employment by the Executive for Good Reason, or in
the event of a Termination Without Cause, and only in such event(s), the Company
shall provide the compensation and benefits set forth in this Section 8.
Executive's continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver
of, rights with respect to any circumstances constituting Good Reason hereunder.

             (a) Base Salary, Benefit and Award Plans. The Company shall
continue to pay the Executive his Base Salary then in effect until the earlier
of: (x) one year after the Termination Date; or (y) the date that Executive
commences employment with another employer (or if Executive becomes self-
employed) at an annual base salary equal to Executive's Base Salary on the
Termination Date; all on the regular payroll schedule with appropriate payroll
tax and other deductions ("Salary Continuation"); provided however, that in no
event shall Salary Continuation be paid to Executive past the Retirement Age. In
the event that Executive commences Employment with another employer (or becomes
self-employed) at an annual base salary less than Executive's Base Salary on the
Termination Date, the Salary Continuation shall be reduced by an amount equal to
the amount of annual base salary received by Executive from such other employer
or from such self-employment. The Company shall also pay on the Termination Date
any amounts due pursuant to the terms of any Benefit Plans and Award Plans in
which Executive was a participant, including, without limitation, the pro rata
amount of any bonus to be paid to Executive for the fiscal year in which
Executive was terminated. In addition, Executive shall be permitted to
participate in, and have all rights and benefits provided by, all Benefit Plans
which Executive was eligible to participate in immediately prior to the
Termination Date (to the extent such participation is possible under the laws
then pertaining to such Benefit Plans), for one (1) year following the
Termination Date.

             (b) Restricted Stock and Stock Options. All restrictions upon any
Restricted Stock which may have been awarded to Executive shall expire and be
removed, such Restricted Stock shall vest according to the schedule for vesting
following the Termination Date and through the date of the final payment of
Salary Continuation (unless otherwise expired or removed and vested pursuant to
the terms of any Restricted Stock Award pursuant to the 1993 Omnibus Stock Plan
or any Award Plan), and such stock shall be delivered to Executive. All Options
granted to Executive prior to the Termination Date shall continue to vest,
according to their schedule following the Termination Date and through the date
of the final payment of Salary Continuation (unless otherwise previously vested
pursuant to the 1993 Omnibus Stock Plan or any other Award Plan). No Stock
Options or Restricted Stock will be granted to Executive after the
<PAGE>

Termination Date. In lieu of Company Shares issuable upon exercise of any
vested, outstanding and unexercised Options granted to Executive, Executive may,
at Executive's option, receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the
Fair Market Value of Company Shares on the Termination Date over the per share
exercise price of each vested Option held by Executive, times (ii) the number of
Company Shares covered by each such Option. In the event Executive does not
elect to receive a cash payment for any vested, outstanding and unexercised
Options granted to Executive, Executive shall have the right to otherwise
exercise such Options in accordance with the terms and conditions provided in
the 1993 Omnibus Stock Plan or any other applicable Award Plans.

                  (c) Plan Loans. If Executive has any Plan Loans outstanding to
the Company immediately prior to the Termination Date, the Company shall
discharge and cancel the amount of principal and interest due with respect to
such Plan Loans which exceeds the Fair Market Value of Company Shares securing
the Plan Loans on the Termination Date, such discharge to be effective upon
Executive's payment of the Plan Loans in full (less the amount discharged)
within ninety (90) days following the Termination Date. Executive shall have the
option of repaying all amounts due with respect to the Plan Loans by the
transfer of the Company Shares securing the Plan Loans, or by the payment, in
cash, of the amounts due with respect to the Plan Loans. Except as otherwise set
forth herein, Executive shall remain subject to all terms and conditions set
forth in the Loan Agreements and Promissory Notes until the Plan Loans are paid
in full.

                  (d) Shareholder Value Plan. With respect to Executive's
participation in the Company's Shareholder Value Plan, the Award Periods in
connection with all of Executive's outstanding SVU Grants shall be accelerated
such that each Award Period is deemed to have ended upon the Termination Date.
At such time, the Company shall pay Executive an amount equal to the SVU Value
multiplied by the number of Executive's outstanding SVU Grants. The SVU Value
shall be reduced by 66% for all SVU Grants which were granted less than twelve
months prior to the Termination Date and the SVU Value shall be reduced by 33%
for all SVU Grants which were granted less than twenty-four months but more than
twelve months prior to the Termination Date. No adjustments shall be made to the
SVU Value for SVU Grants which were granted more than twenty-four months prior
to the Termination Date. All payments made to Executive after the Termination
Date in connection with outstanding SVU Grants shall be made solely in cash.

                  (e) Legal Fees. The Company shall also pay to Executive all
reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by Executive as a result of a
dispute concerning this Agreement in connection with a Termination Without Cause
or Executive's resignation for Good Reason (including all such fees and
expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in
seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement),
if Executive is the prevailing party in connection with such dispute.
<PAGE>

         9.  Non Competition; Non Solicitation.
                  (a) For a period of one (1) year following the Term, Executive
shall not: (i) solicit any employee of the Company to leave the service of the
Company; or (ii) own any interest in any Self-Storage Property (other than: (x)
any permissible interest acquired while Executive was employed by the Company;
or (y) any interest that is expressly permitted by the Company) as partner,
shareholder or otherwise; or directly or indirectly, for his own account or of
the account of others, either as an officer, director, promoter, employee,
consultant, advisor, agent, manager, or in any other capacity, engage in the
Self-Storage Business.

                  (b) The non solicitation provision shall apply to any Company
employee during the period of such Employee's employment and for a period of
thirty (30) days after such Employee's termination of employment with the
Company.

                  (c) The Executive agrees that damages at law for violation of
the restrictive covenant contained herein would not be an adequate or proper
remedy to the Company, and that should the Executive violate or threaten to
violate any of the provisions of such covenant, the Company, its successors or
assigns, shall be entitled to obtain a temporary or permanent injunction, as
appropriate, against the Executive in any court having jurisdiction over the
person and the subject matter, prohibiting any further violation of any such
covenants. The injunctive relief provided herein shall be in addition to any
award of damages, compensatory, exemplary or otherwise, payable by reason of
such violation.

                  (d) The Executive acknowledges that this Agreement has been
negotiated at arm's length by the parties, neither being under any compulsion to
enter into this Agreement, and that the foregoing restrictive covenant does not
in any respect inhibit his ability to earn a livelihood in his chosen profession
without violating the restrictive covenant contained herein. The Company by
these presents has attempted to limit the Executive's right to compete only to
the extent necessary to protect the Company from unfair competition. The Company
recognizes, however, that reasonable people may differ in making such a
determination. Consequently, the Company agrees that if the scope or
enforceability of the restricted covenant contained herein is in any way
disputed at any time, a court or other trier of fact may modify and enforce the
covenant to the extent that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances
existing at the time.

         10. Employment Status. The parties acknowledge and agree that Executive
is an employee of the Company, not an independent contractor. Any payments made
to Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated for
federal and state payroll tax purposes as payments made to a Company employee,
irrespective whether such payments are made subsequent to the Termination Date.

         11. Notices. All notices or deliveries authorized or required pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when in writing and
personally delivered or when deposited in the U.S. mail, certified, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties at the following
<PAGE>

addresses or to such other addresses as either may designate in writing to the
other party:

                  To the Company:   175 Toyota Plaza
                                    Suite 700
                                    Memphis, TN 38103
                                    Attn: General Counsel


                  To the Executive: 1892 Grovecrest
                                    Germantown, TN  38139

         12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall
not be modified in any manner except by instrument in writing signed, by or on
behalf of, the parties hereto; provided however, that the parties to this
Agreement hereby acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is subject to the
Severance Agreement dated as of August 16, 1999 between the parties, to all
covenants and agreements set forth in the Severance Agreement, and to any
subsequent renewals, extensions or modifications to the Severance Agreement. Any
action by the Company or termination of Executive's employment with the Company
that constitutes or otherwise gives rise to a Change of Control Termination, as
defined in the Severance Agreement, shall be governed exclusively by the
Severance Agreement. The provisions of Section 2(b) of the Severance Agreement
governing disputes shall be effective with respect to any dispute as to whether
a Termination constitutes a Change of Control Termination. In the event that
Executive expressly agrees to waive any provision hereof, such waiver shall be
memorialized by an amendment to this Agreement, which Executive hereby agrees to
sign This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs,
successors and assigns of the parties hereto

         13. Arbitration. Any controversy concerning or claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement shall be settled by final and binding arbitration in
Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee at a location specified by the party seeking
such arbitration.

                  (a) The Arbitrators. Any arbitration proceeding shall be
conducted by three (3) Arbitrators and the decision of the Arbitrators shall be
binding on all parties. Each Arbitrator shall have substantial experience and
expert competence in the matters being arbitrated. The party desiring to submit
any matter relating to this Agreement to arbitration shall do so by written
notice to the other party, which notice shall set forth the items to be
arbitrated, such party's choice of Arbitrator, and such party's substantive
position in the arbitration. The party receiving such notice shall, within
fifteen (15) days after receipt of such notice, appoint an Arbitrator and notify
the other party of its appointment and of its substantive position. The
Arbitrators appointed by the parties to the Arbitration shall select an
additional Arbitrator meeting the aforedescribed criteria. The Arbitrators shall
be required to render a decision in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Subparagraph (b) below within thirty (30) days after being notified of their
selection. The fees of the Arbitrators shall be equally divided amongst the
parties to the arbitration.
<PAGE>

                  (b) Arbitration Procedures. Arbitration shall be conducted in
accordance with the Uniform Arbitration Act, except to the extent the provisions
of such Act are modified by this Agreement or the subsequent mutual agreement of
the parties. Judgment upon the award rendered by the Arbitrator(s) may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Any party hereto may bring an
action, including a summary or expedited proceeding, to compel arbitration of
any controversy or claim to which this provision applies in any court having
jurisdiction over such action in Shelby County, Tennessee, and the parties agree
that jurisdiction and venue in Shelby County, Tennessee are appropriate and
approved by such parties.

         14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee.

         15. Assignment. The Executive acknowledges that his services are unique
and personal. Accordingly, the Executive may not assign his rights or delegate
his duties or obligations under this Agreement, except with respect to certain
rights to receive payments as described in Section 7.

         16. Headings. Headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and
shall not be used to interpret or construe its provisions.

         17. Successors; Binding Agreement. The Company will require any
successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such
assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall
be a beach of this Agreement and shall entitle Executive to compensation from
the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as Executive would be
entitled to hereunder if Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason.
The Company's rights and obligations under this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company's successors and assigns.
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective
as of the date first above written.

                             STORAGE USA, INC.


                             By:   \s\ Dean Jernigan
                                 -------------------------
                             Name:    Dean Jernigan
                             Title:   Chief Executive Officer, President


                             EXECUTIVE:



                             Name:  \s\ Richard B. Stern
                                 ------------------------------
                                       Richard B. Stern