The Slow Sad Demise Of The Camera Store: In my younger days, I did not notice this circumstance. Now that I am older, my experience warns me to this future feature of urban landscape.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

In my younger days, I did not notice this circumstance. Now that I am older, my experience warns me to this future feature of urban landscape. The loss of the photography store. Last night, after work I walked from the train station for two city blocks. The camera store was open and but not bustling with customers as was usual.
I had gone inside and noticed the look of the store had changed.
Once where cameras filled a display case, jewelry replaced these icons of the past. Further along, another display case featured wallets and purses. Behind the register was a wall covered with assorted batteries packaged for sale. There were two very large machines capable of printing photographs from film and digital media. Against the opposite wall were shelves that held various photo frames. In the back of the store there was a tiny portrait studio for creating passport photos. As I walked to the front of the store, there was yet another display case full of mobile phones.
I thought to myself how the store had changed. Yet there were still remnants of the past amongst the newly filled display cabinets. There were nicely organized but dust covered film cameras from the past. Each with a small tag telling me of the price. Significantly cheaper than I remember, each was a museum piece. I picked up two rolls of film. You could imagine my surprise when the clerk told me the price of each roll was twenty five dollars. I was aghast both physically and emotionally.
Even from my long distant past, I can’t imagine spending so much money for a roll of film that I am to sell my wife’s prized Comfort Tiffany lamp.
I am inclined to sell my film cameras but they have an immersive sentimental value now.
But times have changed. The brick and mortar venue where one can select a camera from a wide selection is now relegated to an online store, left to scroll for pages and days ‘til an appropriate camera can be decided upon.
Which film to choose from? Film has become elusive commanding more but lacking the variations that once emerged.
I decided to purchase the same rolls on line almost paying the same but with tax, postage and handling.
I am reminded of my two favorite stores discarded like an open cardboard box from a roll of film.

The first store I remember was from my days in High School. It was Olden Camera Store. It was on the corner of Broadway and East 33rd Street in New York City. I had to walk up all those stairs to get to the selling floor. I ended up buying a
Zenit-E. On the next corner is Bryant Park.
As the years passed, I would eventually go to Raleigh Camera. It was in the middle of the street on Flatbush Avenue and Ave P in Brooklyn. I ended up buying my Canon EOS Rebel 2000. If I remember correctly, the owner, Ms Russell sold me that gem. What a fantastic camera then. I still have both cameras which operate flawlessly.

But Gone are not the Brick and Mortar store as many might believe. I have found B&H. While their online store is fantastic the actual store on 34th Street and 9th Avenue is amazing. I have found the floor staff is terrific. They do not try to sell me something I don’t need or is too expensive. The cashiers are patient and considerate. Even if I go into the store, I will always get a handful of the candies which I love as a delightful treat.
Thank you to the owners of B&H who decided not to relinquish their bricks to a Burger King or a bus depot!

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Yes, we are lucky to have stores like B&H and Berger Camera in our backyards.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yea...
MANY years ago I worked part-time at a local camera store for a few years. That was fun.

B&H is my go to place now.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I wonder if Central Camera in Chicago is still open? They had a fire and some civil unrest looting a while back.

BebuLamar

Scruples wrote:

In my younger days, I did not notice this circumstance. Now that I am older, my experience warns me to this future feature of urban landscape. The loss of the photography store. Last night, after work I walked from the train station for two city blocks. The camera store was open and but not bustling with customers as was usual.
I had gone inside and noticed the look of the store had changed.
Once where cameras filled a display case, jewelry replaced these icons of the past. Further along, another display case featured wallets and purses. Behind the register was a wall covered with assorted batteries packaged for sale. There were two very large machines capable of printing photographs from film and digital media. Against the opposite wall were shelves that held various photo frames. In the back of the store there was a tiny portrait studio for creating passport photos. As I walked to the front of the store, there was yet another display case full of mobile phones.
I thought to myself how the store had changed. Yet there were still remnants of the past amongst the newly filled display cabinets. There were nicely organized but dust covered film cameras from the past. Each with a small tag telling me of the price. Significantly cheaper than I remember, each was a museum piece. I picked up two rolls of film. You could imagine my surprise when the clerk told me the price of each roll was twenty five dollars. I was aghast both physically and emotionally.
Even from my long distant past, I can’t imagine spending so much money for a roll of film that I am to sell my wife’s prized Comfort Tiffany lamp.
I am inclined to sell my film cameras but they have an immersive sentimental value now.
But times have changed. The brick and mortar venue where one can select a camera from a wide selection is now relegated to an online store, left to scroll for pages and days ‘til an appropriate camera can be decided upon.
Which film to choose from? Film has become elusive commanding more but lacking the variations that once emerged.
I decided to purchase the same rolls on line almost paying the same but with tax, postage and handling.
I am reminded of my two favorite stores discarded like an open cardboard box from a roll of film.

The first store I remember was from my days in High School. It was Olden Camera Store. It was on the corner of Broadway and East 33rd Street in New York City. I had to walk up all those stairs to get to the selling floor. I ended up buying a
Zenit-E. On the next corner is Bryant Park.
As the years passed, I would eventually go to Raleigh Camera. It was in the middle of the street on Flatbush Avenue and Ave P in Brooklyn. I ended up buying my Canon EOS Rebel 2000. If I remember correctly, the owner, Ms Russell sold me that gem. What a fantastic camera then. I still have both cameras which operate flawlessly.

But Gone are not the Brick and Mortar store as many might believe. I have found B&H. While their online store is fantastic the actual store on 34th Street and 9th Avenue is amazing. I have found the floor staff is terrific. They do not try to sell me something I don’t need or is too expensive. The cashiers are patient and considerate. Even if I go into the store, I will always get a handful of the candies which I love as a delightful treat.
Thank you to the owners of B&H who decided not to relinquish their bricks to a Burger King or a bus depot!

In my younger days, I did not notice this circumst... (show quote)

People like Amazon.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Orlando Florida has a few camera stores. The largest one called colonial photo on Harvey. Very large camera selection. They also have a great hobbies section especially trains. I hope that people continue to use cameras adult just rely on their cell phones.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jccash wrote:

Orlando Florida has a few camera stores. The largest one called colonial photo on Harvey. Very large camera selection. They also have a great hobbies section especially trains. I hope that people continue to use cameras adult just rely on their cell phones.

Yup. I was in Colonial a lot when I lived in Florida years ago. It was about 10 miles from my house.

MosheR Loc: New York City

Scruples wrote:

In my younger days, I did not notice this circumstance. Now that I am older, my experience warns me to this future feature of urban landscape. The loss of the photography store. Last night, after work I walked from the train station for two city blocks. The camera store was open and but not bustling with customers as was usual.
I had gone inside and noticed the look of the store had changed.
Once where cameras filled a display case, jewelry replaced these icons of the past. Further along, another display case featured wallets and purses. Behind the register was a wall covered with assorted batteries packaged for sale. There were two very large machines capable of printing photographs from film and digital media. Against the opposite wall were shelves that held various photo frames. In the back of the store there was a tiny portrait studio for creating passport photos. As I walked to the front of the store, there was yet another display case full of mobile phones.
I thought to myself how the store had changed. Yet there were still remnants of the past amongst the newly filled display cabinets. There were nicely organized but dust covered film cameras from the past. Each with a small tag telling me of the price. Significantly cheaper than I remember, each was a museum piece. I picked up two rolls of film. You could imagine my surprise when the clerk told me the price of each roll was twenty five dollars. I was aghast both physically and emotionally.
Even from my long distant past, I can’t imagine spending so much money for a roll of film that I am to sell my wife’s prized Comfort Tiffany lamp.
I am inclined to sell my film cameras but they have an immersive sentimental value now.
But times have changed. The brick and mortar venue where one can select a camera from a wide selection is now relegated to an online store, left to scroll for pages and days ‘til an appropriate camera can be decided upon.
Which film to choose from? Film has become elusive commanding more but lacking the variations that once emerged.
I decided to purchase the same rolls on line almost paying the same but with tax, postage and handling.
I am reminded of my two favorite stores discarded like an open cardboard box from a roll of film.

The first store I remember was from my days in High School. It was Olden Camera Store. It was on the corner of Broadway and East 33rd Street in New York City. I had to walk up all those stairs to get to the selling floor. I ended up buying a
Zenit-E. On the next corner is Bryant Park.
As the years passed, I would eventually go to Raleigh Camera. It was in the middle of the street on Flatbush Avenue and Ave P in Brooklyn. I ended up buying my Canon EOS Rebel 2000. If I remember correctly, the owner, Ms Russell sold me that gem. What a fantastic camera then. I still have both cameras which operate flawlessly.

But Gone are not the Brick and Mortar store as many might believe. I have found B&H. While their online store is fantastic the actual store on 34th Street and 9th Avenue is amazing. I have found the floor staff is terrific. They do not try to sell me something I don’t need or is too expensive. The cashiers are patient and considerate. Even if I go into the store, I will always get a handful of the candies which I love as a delightful treat.
Thank you to the owners of B&H who decided not to relinquish their bricks to a Burger King or a bus depot!

In my younger days, I did not notice this circumst... (show quote)

And very important, B&H also has a CLEAN bathroom. I used to love to go to the now infamous 47th Street Photo. When I spoke with them in Hebrew, they gave me tremendous film and processing discounts.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Roberts in Indianapolis (both physical and online) is a great camera store.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Luckily, there are places like Lens Rentals, just up the road from me in TN that are VERY reasonable...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Fortunately we have two brick and mortar stores in Raleigh. Southeastern Camera is my favorite, and a GREAT store with fine salespeople. They're so well stocked that I rarely need to order online, and their trade in offers are better than KEH or MPB in my experience.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

When I moved to the town I currently live in there were 2 camera stores. Now there are none. If I want to walk into a brick and mortar store I have to drive more than 70 miles one way. I do most of my purchasing from B&H, Adorama and Amazon. It’s sad to see camera stores disappearing.

Dodie

Harry02 Loc: Gardena, CA

Typical bad nabagement and mis read capitalism. Again.
The camer store near me got a loan, some investorsm and "upscaled".
Used to be able to walk in, talk to the folk, and attend seminars.
No more.
The OG owners were replaced by ignorant young salesmen.
Prices went up- a lot- to help pay the vig.
I missed the used equipt fire sale- I heard it was brutal.
now it's just some year-old new stuff.
I mentioned it then here- I helped sell a 1.4 convertor.
Set up a tripod and camera, and a demo on how it doubled the lens's capabilities.
Now? "Oh no! We don't handle anything in store! Cash and carry, only!"
There used to be some looky loos and curmudgeons around- lots of info and talk.
No more. You aren't buying at the moment- bye! Only sales kids in the store.
So yeah, I need/want something I goto eBay or KEH. First.
And I just avoid going to the store.

therwol Loc: USA

Scruples wrote:

The first store I remember was from my days in High School. It was Olden Camera Store. It was on the corner of Broadway and East 33rd Street in New York City. I had to walk up all those stairs to get to the selling floor.

It was a family owned store. There were some fantastic people working inside, and they did a big mail order business. Do you remember the Olden Yellow Pages in the back of photo magazines? We bought a lot of stuff from them. I remember those stairs too. You wouldn't guess what was upstairs from the street. The place was packed every time I went in there.

Chiroman8

Dear MosheR,

Although clean bathrooms have always been a must for me my whole life its amazing how many businesses don't even consider that as being an important part of their business ! Now all I have to do is learn to speak Hebrew !