Yah, there's some super Container ideas out and about...
A pal in Seattle reminded me that an Insulated Container would be nice to start with. They're used for shipping Beef and other chilled Products to/from Brazil or Australia using a Diesel-power Reefer Unit. Such a Container would make for a nice, energy-saving Shell to start with.
In Taiwan, I've seen numerous Betel Nut Shops made from Containers. Truckers buy the mild stimulant Nuts to stay awake, and to chat up the leggy Gals that are hired to run them. Ubiquitous lime green Neon signage lights them up at night. On an important Road between Towns, a string of these colorful Shops is really something to see. Funny...
A Farming Neighbor got 8 - 40' Containers and stacked them 2 long by 2 high on 2 sides to comprise his Hay Barn. He connected the 2 sides with long Wood Trusses and roofed it with Galvanized Panels. This keeps his Hay and Equipment dry, and the ~9,000 lb. Containers sure aren't going anywhere.
Even before I recently saw a purpose-built 5th Wheel Trailer delivering a Container in New Mexico, towed by a 1 Ton Dually Truck, the ~$2,200- price in CO for a Container got me thinking there's money to be made delivering inland. Or, get them to our nearest City of Grand Junction by Railroad, and deliver them from there...
When I was researching them to purchase, I was told there were ~300,000 Containers around Long Beach CA. They can be made new in China cheaper than they can be shipped back, so they're around to be had, I guess. We got a helluva deal on a Modular Garage w/2 side 'Wings' that was a Model. We had it knocked down and set back up on a Concrete Slab after snagging it for 50% off the original price. So, that deal put the kaibosh on my Container search for now.
Betel Nut Shops