Burdeshaw’s Locksmith Services has all the trappings of a long-held family business.
There’s wood paneling on the walls and the store has a collection of memorabilia from years past -- old safes, locks and locksmithing tools.
From all the equipment you can see in the store, the business has obviously changed a lot since it opened in 1924. The business celebrated a milestone a few weeks ago when Charles Swicord handed over the reins of the business to his grandson, Garret Wilkins.
The store was founded as Burdeshaw Bicycle Shop in 1924 by Coolidge Burdeshaw in downtown Dothan.
“Dothan was a small town back then and there wasn’t a lot to do with locks,” Swicord said. “You had to have two or three different lines to make a living.”
The business moved in 1955 to South East Street and Burdeshaw continued to operate it until his death. The business then passed to his grandson, Swicord, in 1959. Swicord expanded the business to include lawnmower and small engine sales and in the late 70s the business moved to its current location on Ross Clark Circle.
Wilkins grew up in the locksmith store, and has enjoyed helping his grandfather evolve the business yet again to a greater emphasis on electronic locks and security.
One of Wilkins’ favorite stories about the modern locksmithing trade involves a call from a woman who was locked out of her car because she had lost her keyless entry device.
“She had the key in her hand but the remote had fallen off but she didn’t realize the key would open the door,” he said.
Swicord says the move to electronic locks is increasing, especially among automobiles. Increased diversification of locks has also been a big change in the industry.
“When I got into it there were maybe two General Motors key blanks that fit all the brands -- now I bet there’s 100 of them,” Swicord said.
Wilkins learned the locksmith trade by hanging out with his grandfather as a child. Wilkins later went into turf management, but with a growing family, he decided to come back to the family business because it’s more stable.
The Burdeshaw-Swicord-Wilkins family’s success in keeping their business intact and passing it on is rare. According to Mid Market Capital Inc., a business broker firm, only about a third of family businesses are successfully handed down to a second generation and only about 13 percent are transferred to a third generation.
Although the odds may be against it, the Wilkins family may make a go at four generations in the locksmithing business, as Wilkins’ three children seem to like playing in the store.
“They like to come in here and dig through the bucket for old key blanks,” he said.
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