Then & Now: Cothron's 75 Years In Austin

You may have heard that Cothron’s Security Professionals is celebrating its 75th anniversary. In honor of this, we wanted to take a little trip down memory lane…

Since 1948, a LOT has changed in Austin, Texas, and we’ve grown and evolved with this beautiful city. We’ve moved, changed locations, and added shops to continue serving as the oldest and most trusted locksmith and security company in town. 
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You may be surprised to learn that some iconic buildings you drive by each day and regularly frequent actually used to house our business. They are now filled with restaurants and stores and offices and bars…but a piece of Cothron’s history still hangs about (sometimes literally:)...

Past/Current Shop Locations

1. Congress: The first location was off Fourth and Congress in what was a magazine store. Cothron’s founder, Olen, lived in the back with his wife, Mary.
2. 807 E 4th: Brewery Guns & Oil Beer took over this location, in order to put its flagship brewery in Downtown Austin. Then it became Native Hostel, which is now closed, and Holey Moley Miniature Golf is moving in soon.
3. 509 Rio Grande: In the '70s, this location had the hanging key-shaped sign…a sign that was then transformed for Wahoo's Fish Tacos in 2007, followed by Holy Roller in 2017, and – currently – J. Carver's. 
4. 909 N Lamar: While there, the company suffered through two floods. It’s now home to Shoal Creek Saloon, which has also flooded. 
5. 2908 N Interstate 35: This is now PixelHaven Gaming & Collectables.
6. 1000 E 51st St: A co-working space, The Grid, moved in.
7. 8120 Exchange: Our current corporate headquarters looks like your typical office space (though, if you look behind it, you'll see monsters and other works of creepy art from our neighbor -- House of Torment!).
8. 1315 W Ben White: Currently, there are three shop locations, located on Ben White…
9. 8225 Burnet Road: …Burnet Road…
10. 2119 N Mays: …and North Mays in Round Rock.​

Some Fun Facts

1. In the 1970s, locksmiths would collaborate with the bicycle industry, and indeed, Cothron’s used to sell bikes! Four of the shops were in on this until about 2008.
2. Cothron’s is still family owned and operated: Olen’s son, Steve, serves as the CEO; Steve’s children, Angela and Andy, are head of accounting and high security, respectively; Angela’s husband, Daniel Powers, is the brand’s operations manager; and Daniel’s cousin, Vanessa Len Herrera, is the dispatch supervisor. 
3. There are several parents/children and siblings (not related to the Cothrons) that are employed by this business, too…including a set of twins.
4. Several employees are in bands that perform around town and every year at the company Christmas party. 
5. Made up of about 80 unique, talented, hardworking people, Cothron’s is like a big family…a family that enjoys keeping Central Texas safe and secure!

Well, did any of these past locations or facts surprise you? Do you remember any of them? Have you been to our current shops? If so, we appreciate your business, and if not, we hope to see you soon. 

Here’s to another 75 years!