A Winslow institution: Joe's Glass and Lock

<i>Todd Roth/NHO</i><br>
Joe Chacon stands in front of the store he worked at from 1976 to 2005 that still bears his name.

<i>Todd Roth/NHO</i><br> Joe Chacon stands in front of the store he worked at from 1976 to 2005 that still bears his name.

WINSLOW, Ariz. - Joe Chacon retired five years ago, but his old shop - now owned by Joe's son Mike, and his wife Elana - still retains his name. Located at 624 West Second Street, Joe's Glass and Lock does automotive glass, plate/plexi-glass, keys, locks, screens and mirrors.

Joe Chacon was born in Winslow and has called it home ever since. Joe married in 1964 and he and his wife raised three children.

Joe began his glass business part time from 1968 to1976. During the same years, he worked full time at Frontier Airlines at Lindberg Field in Winslow. While working at the airport he became friends with the sales representative for Curtis Industries who covered this territory, supplying all manner of locksmith supplies. The Curtis representative introduced Joe to the mysteries and skills of the locksmith world and was a superb tutor.

As a result, Joe went on to locksmith school in Phoenix but his best mentor was the Curtis Industries representative. Beginning in 1976, Joe began his full-time business as Joe's Glass and Lock and worked until his retirement in 2005.

Early in Joe's business career, before the Navajo reservation had its present roads, Joe's business was comprised of 80 percent Native Americans. Even today, if he wears his "Joe's Lock & Glass" shirt on the Rez, he gets lots of friendly waving hands.

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