Longstanding Family-Run Locksmith Company Relocates to Orange

WRITTEN BY: SHAILEEN KELLY LANDSBERG

One of Connecticut’s oldest locksmiths has relocated to Orange! Charm’s Locksmith, also known as Charm’s Security Hardware, Inc., was founded over 60 years ago in New Haven. They moved to West Haven in 1995 but outgrew the space and recently moved to the Hitchcock Plaza in Orange.

Owners and brothers Joe and Andy Klatzkin, whose grandfather co-owned the business, took over Charm’s Locksmith in 2018 from their parents, who had owned it after their grandfather. Their parents are still an integral part of the business and are still involved, working for Joe and Andy. Their mother, Barbara, smiled and shared “I love working for them, and I love helping our customers.”

Products And Services

Over the years, Papa has expanded A high level of customer service is evident as soon as one enters the company’s new storefront. An eye-catching sign outside over the doors beckon to customers as they drive into the plaza. Inside is a large, well-organized showroom, with professional displays of many of the products they carry, such as decorative door and drawer hardware, locks, and cabinet hardware, locking mailboxes, thousands of key blanks of various styles, and more. Friendly staff members greet customers with smiles, and efficiently help each person with their needs.

“We have an immense scope of services.” shared Joe Klatzkin. “We duplicate keys of all types, as you can tell by the 3,500 blanks on the wall in the showroom, and can even cut and program automobile keys, except for European models, and work with a lot of antique automobile restorers to fabricate keys. For example, we helped with the keys for a 1933 Packard, and have helped with restoration of muscle cars from the 60s and 70s. We can craft keys for antique locks and antique safes as well and have made keys for things like old steamer trunks, antique glass-topped gumball machines, old parking meters, and even an old carnival scale.”

Andy Klatzkin added, “We also sell and install residential door handles and knobs, deadbolt locks, keypad door locks, commercial products such as door handles, locks, closers, and panic bars. We provide keys for things like airplanes, cars, motorcycles, soda machines, and more, as well as duplicate keys for padlocks and safes. We can provide and install almost anything that goes on a door.”

Rewarding Roles

The Klatzkin brothers shared that they love working together. They each have a different main focus, allowing them to give more attention to what they love best about the locksmithing industry. Joe is primarily store-based, giving him the opportunity to serve walk-in customers, repair and maintain locks brought in, and source and curate the products on being sold and displayed. He shared, “I love working on old locks; it is rewarding to work on and repair antique door locks, and some of the ones I’ve worked on are 100 plus years old.”

Andy’s primary role takes him on the road, taking fleet vehicles to different sites to repair or install door or lock hardware. He shared “I love the problem-solving aspect of the business; for example, when I come across something unique and am able to get creative with what type of hardware I use for the job. I like to learn what will suit the customer’s needs and work to meet those needs, while maintaining fire code or ADA requirements. There is a lot of variety, and it can be exciting not always doing the same thing every day.”

Credentials

“Our company is licensed, bonded through the Associated Locksmiths of America, and insured,” continued Andy. “We have had federal background checks and are licensed locksmiths, and any new technicians can work directly with us as an apprentice until they obtain their locksmith license. We also have our home improvement contractor license.”

The brothers decided to move to Orange when they realized their prior space was no longer serving the business. Joe shared, “We ran out of space, and the parking was not nearly enough. We decided to stay close so, as to not lose customers, but also gain a new market, and after some research decided this was a great spot.”

Charm’s Locksmith, located at 185 Boston Post Road, Orange, is open Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:30 pm, and walk-in customers are welcome. Their phone number is 203-795-1100 and their website is charmssecurity.com.