A storage system, comprising: a storage system assembly positioned at a height that is greater than a height of a tool used for handling substrates to be processed, the storage system configured to locally store one or more containers of substrates before or after being processed by the tool, the storage system assembly, including, (a) a frame located above and coupled to a frame of an assembly of the tool, the tool being at least one load port having a load port shelf that is interfaced to one or more substrate processing tools; (b) a base plate coupled to the frame, the base plate includes a drive pulley, an idler pulley, a belt, a track and a motor; (c) a plurality of storage shelves, each of the plurality of storage shelves have shelf plates with shelf features for supporting a container, and each of the plurality of storage shelves being coupled to the belt to enable movement and being coupled to the track to enable guiding to one or more positions; and (d) a stationary shelf (174a, 174b) oriented at a side of the frame of the storage system assembly, wherein the load port shelf and the stationary shelf extend and are oriented in a same direction; wherein the motor is coupled to the drive pulley for moving the belt, such that each of the plurality of storage shelves move together along the track to the one or more positions, the track having at least some sections that are linear and some sections that are nonlinear and the sections are arranged in a loop over the base plate; (e) a horizontal track oriented above the storage system assembly, the horizontal track aligned to the same direction that the load port shelf and the stationary shelf extend; (f) a transfer hoist connected to the horizontal track to enable the transfer hoist to move along the track, the transfer hoist defined to extend away from the storage system assembly in a direction of the stationary shelf and the load port shelf, (g) an overhead transfer vehicle, the overhead transfer vehicle positioned above the transfer hoist, the stationary shelf, the storage shelves, and the load port shelf, wherein the transfer hoist is configured to, (i) pick or place containers to or from the stationary shelf; or (ii) pick or place containers to or from the load port shelf; or (iii) pick or place containers to or from the stationary shelf and the load port shelf; or (iv) pick or place containers to or from a port plate of the storage system assembly, the stationary shelf, or the load port shelf. (a) a frame located above and coupled to a frame of an assembly of the tool, the tool being at least one load port having a load port shelf that is interfaced to one or more substrate processing tools; (b) a base plate coupled to the frame, the base plate includes a drive pulley, an idler pulley, a belt, a track and a motor; (c) a plurality of storage shelves, each of the plurality of storage shelves have shelf plates with shelf features for supporting a container, and each of the plurality of storage shelves being coupled to the belt to enable movement and being coupled to the track to enable guiding to one or more positions; and (d) a stationary shelf (174a, 174b) oriented at a side of the frame of the storage system assembly, wherein the load port shelf and the stationary shelf extend and are oriented in a same direction; wherein the motor is coupled to the drive pulley for moving the belt, such that each of the plurality of storage shelves move together along the track to the one or more positions, the track having at least some sections that are linear and some sections that are nonlinear and the sections are arranged in a loop over the base plate; (e) a horizontal track oriented above the storage system assembly, the horizontal track aligned to the same direction that the load port shelf and the stationary shelf extend; (f) a transfer hoist connected to the horizontal track to enable the transfer hoist to move along the track, the transfer hoist defined to extend away from the storage system assembly in a direction of the stationary shelf and the load port shelf, (g) an overhead transfer vehicle, the overhead transfer vehicle positioned above the transfer hoist, the stationary shelf, the storage shelves, and the load port shelf, (i) pick or place containers to or from the stationary shelf; or (ii) pick or place containers to or from the load port shelf; or (iii) pick or place containers to or from the stationary shelf and the load port shelf; or (iv) pick or place containers to or from a port plate of the storage system assembly, the stationary shelf, or the load port shelf.