Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK society) a large, fashionable pawn shop.

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

2. (US) a bank.

1935

A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks.

3. (Aus.) a school.

1965

Aus. Women’s Wkly 3 Nov. 10/4: School is the warehouse, if you’ve got a hustle (job) you receive green bark.

4. a large and impersonal institution offering shelter to the mentally ill, the old or the poor.

1972

Time 14 Feb. 67: For most of Willowbrook’s residents, the institution is a warehouse, a place capable of providing only shelter and the barest essentials.

5. (US prison) an overcrowded prison.

2000		Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner’s Dict. July 🌐 Warehouse: An institution with overcrowded conditions and little or no program. Housing may be in a dorm or a gym converted to living space.
2002		W.D. Myers Handbook for Boys 85: ‘[Y]ou can choose to go into some warehouse for young people [and] get yourself a record’ .

6. see give (someone) the office under office n.