CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Central Camera is the oldest camera store in Chicago. It opened in 1899 at 31 Adams Street, and moved to the current location at 230 S Wabash Ave in 1929.

Central Camera by Paul Sager, on Flickr


Founder Albert Flesch left his native Hungary to come to Chicago alone when he was 13. Albert kept a diary of the trip, describing life on the ship and his arrival in Chicago, where he went to live with an uncle.

Central Camera at night


Years later, Albert Flesch started his work career in the camera department of Siegel-Cooper, one of the large downtown department stores of the day. With this initiation to photography, he opened Central Camera in a storefront at 31 E. Adams St. in 1899.

Central Camera


The year of Central Camera’s founding marked the 60th anniversary of the invention of photography. George Eastman had revolutionized the market with easy-to-operate Kodak box cameras, first introduced in 1888. Albert Flesch offered the innovative service of commercial developing and print processing at his store in 1900, and also operated a mail-order catalogue. Central Camera prospered, moving to Wabash Avenue in 1929.

Central Camera at night


Images in this post date to 2022, including both film and digital. Central Camera is open from 10 AM to 2 PM Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. I was there a few times to record the sign before I was ever inside.

Central Camera


Albert' two sons, Stanley and Harold, were both involved in the business. Albert Flesch had a heart attack and died in 1933 at the age of 56. Harold’s son Albert “Don” Flesch, the current owner, started working in the store as a schoolboy in the 1950s.

Central Camera


Don became co-owner of Central Camera Co. after his father, Harold, died in 1983, and then bought the remaining 50 percent of shares from his uncle Stanley in 1990.

Central Camera


Central Camera was burned and looted in the rioting that took place after the death of George Floyd in 2020. The owner, Don Flesch, had no bitterness, and stood by the African-American community in solidarity at the time. However, the old store was a near-total loss.

Central Camera


Flesch’s equanimity amid the destruction of his family’s business earned him fans on social media, and an outpouring of love and support from customers, the community, and photographers around the world who visited the store over the years. A Go Fund Me effort raised $225,000 for the rebuild.

Central Camera


Now in his 70s, the issue of succession is on his mind. Neither one of his two kids seem to want to take over, Don says, meaning that the store’s familial legacy will likely end with him.

Central Camera


The B&W images in this post were captured using a deep red filter and Kodak TMAX 400. The color film shots come from Kodak Ektar 100. The image titles are URL links to Flickr where all the EXIF data are provided.

ELNikkor

Doing a little math, Albert had come to America in 1890, a resourceful and brave 13 year-old, probably not knowing English, and having to make his way from NY(?) to Chicago to meet an uncle. At 19. he started the photo store that continues to this day. Great photos and story, thanks for posting!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There's more to the story too, learned from the diary. He walked from Hungary into Italy as far as Venice to evade conscription into the Austro-Hungarian Imperial army, before he got on the boat to America.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I bought a D800 from them when it first debuted.

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

A fine memory. . Thank you. . .By the way, "CHG-Canon". . do you happen to recall the name of another large camera shop in downtown Chicago that was there for many years (but, is no longer)? Your reminiscence reminded me of this "other" store where I bought my first Nikon in 1968 (after driving down from Madison, WI, where I was beginning my first year of grad school). I bought a used Nikon FTN; and, one lens: a Nikkor 85mm, 1.4. . .I still have the 85 mm lens; but, the FTN was stolen about 10 yrs later.

Stephan G

The moment I get lost in my thoughts, I am jostled by a memory from the Ole Days. I spent some time visiting the store back in the 1960s. Your shots certainly pulled in the fuzzy memories into sharpness. The store was one of several that I haunted back then. I am glad to see that the brothers did hold on. But like other family businesses, the "modern" generation wants to move on.

Thanks for the memory pings.

Great shots, per usual.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Another outstanding post - you are a master and I enjoy each post you make!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I arrived to Chicago in 1990, Brian. There was a place on Lincoln Ave, about 3 miles north to Central Camera, with another great sign. But, they've been gone now for many years. Other places downtown disappeared long before my notice. Thanks.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Stephan. In research the store, it seems they have (had?) a good ebay presence. Maybe a way to survive as the insides of the store are still a work-in-progress.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you ELNikkor, tradio, Brian, Stephan, Country Boy! I never did spent much time in camera stores. My memories, the few distinct ones remaining, only go back to Penn Camera in DC and the older Roberts location in downtown Indy, both only in the early 2000s.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

Great story and photos Paul. Thanks.

GAS496 Loc: Arizona

I loved the story and your images. What a moving narrative from the long walk to freedom to the raising of Go Fund me money to the kids not wanting to carry on the stores legacy. The history of photography and the old ways of the process are intriguing to me. Maybe that’s why I shoot exclusively with film/glass plates; mostly large format, and have a darkroom with all the chemistry in brown glass bottles just so I can hear the clinking of the glass. So sad that this piece of photography history is on the precipice of dying out. Thank you for sharing this.

What is it like inside?

Vaun's photography Loc: Bonney Lake, WA

Very interesting history of the store and family. Too bad Don's kids aren't interested, but it often works that way.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you GAS496. Alas, the inside is not very impressive. Although they have fresh film, most of the stock is just accessory products and used cameras, and not a particularly large selection.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Ray, GAS496, Vaun! I continue to explore Chicago but really wasn't shooting much in 2022. I passed Central on the L a few times and resolved to make so trips there specifically last summer, learning I need better and specific timing if I was ever going to get inside.