photograph by Bruce Dye   Bruce Dye

Most Reliable Key-cutters & Locksmiths

Cothron's

Seems like every chain store, discount shop, and mega hardware mart has a key cutter these days. Sure, it's convenient, but have you had great luck with the keys? We haven't. Nope. In too many cases, the keys are cut by whatever clerk happens to be stuck with the shift. Sure, key cutting is not rocket science, but for every crappy key we've had return, we think it might be an art. Owen Cothron began his key and lock service out of a newspaper stand on Congress Avenue in 1948. Four shops (including two bike shops), 18 service trucks, and 50 years later, Cothron's is Central Texas' largest locksmith firm. The demand for service is high, but as they say, "Good help is hard to find." So to develop personnel, Cothron's also started the state's first locksmithing school. Now the State of Texas is coming to them to help develop guidelines for state's first venture into locksmith licensing.

Cothron's
8225 Burnet Rd., 512/454-9547
2119 N. Mays, Round Rock, 512/246-3979
www.cothrons.com