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Sentry Safe Ends An Era In Rochester

Sentry Safe closes its doors in Pittsford this week.

The 86 year old company is closing up shop as part of the move announced last year when its owner, Master Lock, said it would be moving the operations to plants in Mexico and Wisconsin.  About 350 jobs were affected.

At the time of the announcement, Sentry called it a business decision needed to keep the company competitive.

Word of the closing last year made Jim Brush, the former CEO, feel "sick" about the announcement. He said when he and his brother Doug made the decision to sell Sentry, they picked that particular buyer because they were assured jobs would stay here. Their family started Sentry three generations ago.

On Tuesday, Greater Rochester of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy released a statement calling it a "tough day for our region." Duffy says the loss of the jobs is a sad reflection on the economic situation across the country and he says the chamber has worked with Sentry Safe and Master Lock to help workers find new jobs in the area.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.