Broward County, FL
Locksmith for Restaurants and Bars — Staff-Turnover Rekeys, Back Doors and Exit Hardware
Front doors, kitchen back doors, the office, the liquor room and dry storage. Joe works with owners and general managers across Palm Beach and Broward County, 9 AM–7 PM, 7 days, and books visits between services.
Lock Problems Restaurants Deal With
Restaurants have high staff turnover, doors that are slammed hundreds of times a day, and stock worth protecting. These are the calls we get most from restaurants and bars in South Florida:
A manager or key holder left
Opening and closing managers carry keys to everything. When one leaves, rekey. It is one short visit, and it removes the question entirely.
The back door will not lock
Kitchen doors take grease, heat, deliveries and carts. A latch that no longer catches leaves the building open all night.
The front door is sticking
Glass storefront doors use a different lock from a house door, and they wear at the latch. See what to do when a storefront door will not lock.
Stock is going missing
Liquor, wine and high-value food. A separate lock on that room, with keys held by two people, usually ends the problem.
You took over an existing restaurant
The previous owner, their managers and their suppliers may all still have keys. Rekey every door before you open.
Someone is locked out before service
The key holder is late or the key snapped in the lock. See business lockouts.
What We Do for Restaurants and Bars
Rekeying
Front, back, office and storage on new keys in one visit, with only the copies you authorise. See rekeying.
Back door hardware
Heavy-duty locks and latches for steel kitchen doors, fitted so the door closes and locks by itself.
Storefront door locks
Cylinders, latches and thumbturns on glass and aluminum entrance doors repaired or replaced.
Exit devices
Panic bars on dining room and kitchen exits repaired or replaced so the door opens freely from inside. See panic bars and exits.
Office, liquor and storage locks
Keyed separately from the main doors, or on a keypad so a code replaces the key. See keypad and smart locks.
Keys staff cannot copy
Restricted keys, so the opening key cannot be duplicated on a day off. See high-security locks.
Who Should Hold Which Key
Most restaurants hand out too many keys to too many doors. A simple three-level plan is easier to run and cheaper to maintain.
Owner and general manager
One key that opens everything, including the office and the liquor room.
Opening and closing managers
A key for the front and back doors only. They can open and lock up without access to the office or high-value stock.
Everyone else
No keys. A keypad on the staff entrance or a storage room gives access during a shift, and the code changes when the team does.
One thing worth knowing: exit doors must open from the inside without a key while the building is occupied. We will point out hardware that looks wrong, such as a keyed deadbolt on an exit, but your fire inspector has the final word on what is required.
Before You Call
- List the doors. Front, back, patio, office, liquor, dry storage, walk-in if it locks.
- Decide who gets keys. Fewer is better. Tell us how many of each you want cut.
- Pick a time between services. Mid-afternoon suits most kitchens. We work 9 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week.
- Check with your landlord. In a plaza or mall the landlord may need a key to your unit or have rules on storefront hardware.
- Text a photo of any door that is giving trouble. It usually tells us the part before we arrive.
We do not publish prices because every building is different, and the hardware drives most of the cost. You get a specific, itemised quote by phone or on site, free, before any work starts, and the number you agree to is the number on the invoice. Everything we install carries a 1-year parts and labor warranty.
Related Services
We also work with HOAs and condo associations, property managers and landlords, offices and medical practices, retail stores and warehouses across Palm Beach and Broward County.
What customers say
"They helped me out and were available when urgently needed. Very reliable and the work was very high quality. I Will certainly be keeping Joe/ PBC as a contact for all of my future locksmith needs."
"Excellent job -- needed to call as last locksmith did not finish the job right --- came in a did it professionally and quickly - will call again"
"Very kind, professional, helpful, did extra work on the door that was messed up. Thanks for your value and quality, plus fast response! Recommend him / company"
A few of our 270+ five-star reviews — Thumbtack · Google · Yelp
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can you rekey a restaurant after a manager leaves?
Usually the same day or the next. A typical restaurant, with front, back, office and storage doors, is rekeyed in one visit. We work 9 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week, so it can be done between lunch and dinner.
Can you fix a back door that will not latch?
Yes. On most kitchen doors the latch or strike has worn or the door has dropped on its hinges. We repair or replace the latch and realign it so the door closes and locks without being pulled.
Do you repair glass storefront door locks?
Yes. Aluminum and glass entrance doors use a narrow lock inside the door frame that wears with heavy use. We replace the cylinder, the latch or the whole lock body as needed.
Can you stop employees copying keys?
Yes. A restricted key cannot be duplicated at a hardware store or a kiosk, and copies are made only on your authorisation. It is the simplest way to know exactly how many keys to your restaurant exist.
Should the liquor room be on a different key?
Yes. Keeping the liquor room and the office off the door key means your opening and closing staff can do their job without access to stock or cash. It costs little to set up during a rekey.
Is a keypad lock a good idea for a staff door?
Often, yes. Staff use a code during their shift, nobody carries a key home, and the code is changed when someone leaves. A mechanical keypad has no batteries, which suits a busy back door.
Can you come before we open?
We start at 9 AM, seven days a week. For most restaurants a mid-morning or mid-afternoon visit works well. We do not offer overnight service.
What areas do you cover for restaurants?
All of Palm Beach County and Broward County, including downtown Delray Beach, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
Need a Locksmith for Your Restaurant?
Open 7 days, 9–7 — call or text and you'll always reach the owner directly.
Serving Palm Beach & Broward County
PBC Locksmith covers Palm Beach and Broward County — same-day appointments, 9 AM to 7 PM, 7 days a week. Call or text and you will reach Joe directly.
Request a Quote or Callback
Out of hours, or don't feel like talking? Leave your details and Joe will get back to you — usually the same day, and always before he shows up.