It’s no secret that 2020 had its share of contentious moments. From battling a global pandemic to racial and political protests across the country, the past year was a stressful one for everyone. Put in simpler terms: 2020 was a doozy. With many people still processing the aftershocks of COVID-19 and results of political unrest in major cities across the U.S., it seems 2021 will unfortunately continue to encounter stages of grief and anger of a trying past 12 months. This also means stores and storefronts may see more damage from continuing protests and riots. Is your store prepared?

People tend to look at boarding up stores as a quick fix, with plywood being the ultimate savior: a fast, relatively inexpensive option for covering easily breakable glass in windows and doors. However, boarding up your store when every other store on the block and in the city wants to do the same means it can be the opposite of your expectations: expensive and time-consuming.

Think about the process: first, you have to find someone who isn’t booked to board up your store. Whoever you choose also has to source the wood (an issue some encountered last year during plywood shortages), find a time slot, and do it quickly in order for your store to be protected in advance of a riot (that can occur in seconds). Couple that with rush fees and a busy schedule, and you can be facing an unprotected store ripe for a few baseball bat swings or cart crashes. As the glass shatters and goods are taken from your store, you’ll wonder if there was a better option.

There’s also the question of what to do after an event: do you continue to leave your store boarded up for a few days? What if your boards get graffiti-ed in the meantime? How will people know you’re open if your store is boarded up? Will you graffiti your own plywood storefront to let the public know you’re open? How much will it cost to store the plywood until you need it again in the near future?


As you’ve just read, the deluge of questions just starts to kick off when you consider boarding up your store. But, what if you “unboard” it…as in, eliminate the need of boarding up your store in the first place?

The issue of finding someone who can also find plywood during a shortage? *Poof!* Gone. Fees for a rushed job and eventual storage for hunks of wood? Vanished.

Instead of shelling out all that money and putting yourself through more stress in an undoubtedly stressful time, you can choose a different option. That’s it, take down your plywood barrier, one sheet at a time.

Think of it: security and protection on demand. Products that are easily hidden and stored until they’re needed, that activate at the touch of a button or even with an app on your phone. No rush or storage fees necessary, just a daily once over for maintenance and cost of ownership over a lifetime of 50,000 or more cycles.

Sound good? Great! Let us introduce a solution to take the plywood blinders off:

StoreDefender. The latest addition to our Defender Series, it’s built to protect with heavy-duty, 18-gauge slats. Withstanding lifting attempts and “push” tested to 2,500 pounds of force, StoreDefender is a versatile option that can be used in any storefront or back of house application. StoreDefender also has a 6” heavy-duty bottom bar, tamper-resistant fasteners, and continuous wind locks. It comes as a service door or as a Thermiser Max insulated door for those interested in creating a more environmentally conscious workspace.

Insulated doors are helpful for climate control in environments where doors are cycled regularly and frequently. Using a Thermiser Max insulated door to close off different parts of your facility can assist with achieving your environmentally friendly goals, such as decreasing the use of heat in the winter or air conditioning in the summer.

It can also be upgraded to include our fail-safe AlarmGard operating system, allowing the door to connect to building security and be closed in conjunction with an alarm or set off when the power goes out. Requiring 4,500 pounds of effort to lift it just three inches, StoreDefender is a much better option than a plywood wall.

It looks much more aesthetically appealing while still providing a visual and physical deterrent to would-be thieves. With options such as AtmoShield™ powder coating (ideal for combatting harsh wear and tear due to weather and environment) and SpectraShield™ power coat finish (in more than 180 colors), your StoreDefender door can protect your store in style.

Stop your nightmares about boarding up your store under tight timelines and possible plywood shortages. Switch to a sturdier and better-looking permanent solution: a StoreDefender Door from CornellCookson, a step above a typical 18-gauge rolling door and a few thousand steps above a plywood barrier.



If you’re interested in making your store ready for periods of civil unrest in seconds with StoreDefender, contact us at 833.958.1273.

Cornell is the industry leader for rolling door, security grille and closure product experts since 1828. To inquire how Cornell's long history of innovation and customer service can help you with your next rolling door project, call 833.958.1273.

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