A Manhattan storefront is a study in contrasts — open and inviting at noon, a hardened target at midnight. Getting both right takes the right hardware, installed correctly, and maintained before it fails. Here's what experienced retailers do.
Glass doors: the daily workhorse
Aluminum-frame glass doors cycle thousands of times daily. The locks that survive are purpose-built: deadbolts and hook bolts designed for narrow stiles, panic hardware where code requires it, and closers tuned for constant traffic. When a glass-door lock starts sticking, fix it fast — a door customers struggle with costs you business, and a door that won't lock costs you everything.
Gates and grilles: the night shift
Roll-down gates deter smash-and-grab, but only if they actually lock. Gate locks seize from disuse and weather — exercise and lubricate them regularly, and address a sticky gate lock before closing time, not at closing time.
Key control for staff turnover
Retail turnover is relentless, and every departure with an unreturned key is a vulnerability. Options that work: rekey promptly after departures (fast and inexpensive), restricted keyways (no unauthorized copies, ever), or keypad access (change the code in seconds). Many shops combine a restricted-keyway front door with a keypad on the back.
After a break-in attempt
Document everything for insurance first — photos of all damage. Then call a locksmith immediately: damaged locks, frames, and doors need prompt repair, and the weak point they exploited should be reinforced, not just restored. We answer 24/7 because break-ins don't keep business hours.