My Local Photo Store Closed Today

images39 · Jun 29, 2019

My local photo/camera shop here in Reno closed today (Gordon's Photo Service). The owner is retiring after spending his whole working career in the photo business. I believe he opened his first store in this area in the early '80s. Great shop that supported analog photographers with film stock, darkroom supplies and a good stock of used film cameras. He and his store will be missed by us analog photographers in the Reno and Carson City area. I was in that store about once per week over the last few years. He told me that he loved the business, and that his work felt like being in a toy store for him. Also that he made so many friends and will miss the people most of all.

Another one of the good old photo stores is gone, and won't be replaced.

Dale

BrianShaw · Jun 29, 2019

Sorry for your loss.

Sirius Glass · Jun 29, 2019

Another sad addition to a growing list.

Theo Sulphate · Jun 29, 2019

The owner retired, but how was the business doing?

Vaughn · Jun 29, 2019

Same here in Humboldt County -- the last camera store in the county had its last day today.

tomkatf · Jun 29, 2019

Vaughn said:
Same here in Humboldt County -- the last camera store in the county had its last day today.

Swanlunds??

Vaughn · Jun 29, 2019

Yes. Mr. Swanlund sold it years ago and I believe it lost its lease. It might reopen in a different location, but if it does, it probably will be on a lower scale. It ran a nice little gallery upstairs, I had a few shows there. For a long while and before we started to hang local photographers, one could go up there and see prints from all the past Masters, from Edward Weston and older, to just about anyone one has heard of in photo history. Imagine -- in little old Eureka, one could walk in and see 20 AA prints on the wall.

Theo Sulphate · Jun 30, 2019

Vaughn said:
... For a long while and before we started to hang local photographers, one could go up there and see prints from all the past Masters...

Seems rather drastic for not making the cut.

Vaughn · Jun 30, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Seems rather drastic for not making the cut.

If you can't hang them, shoot them...

AgX · Jun 30, 2019

The camera store business is under pressure. The relief is being able to live on high-end cameras and being big enough to make prices competible.
The used department is an additional source of income. But at least in the analog field that will likely go with clients as me. I never saw anyone younger than me buying an analog camera there. (Not even a used digital one.)

images39 · Jun 30, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
The owner retired, but how was the business doing?

I believe that he was doing pretty well. He told me that he's not retiring rich, but that he's OK. The store did carry digital cameras and used analog cameras, and it had a processing and printing lab. A couple of years back he stopped carrying most digital cameras because he said the companies were geared for large retailers (Best Buy, etc), and they treated small shops poorly. His shop had a following, and one of his employees told me that a couple of customers cried when saying goodbye. The owner told me that he could have worked another 5 years (he's 65), but he wants to spend more time with his father.

Dale

images39 · Jun 30, 2019

AgX said:
The camera store business is under pressure. The relief is being able to live on high-end cameras and being big enough to make prices competible.
The used department is an additional source of income. But at least in the analog field that will likely go with clients as me. I never saw anyone younger than me buying an analog camera there. (Not even a used digital one.)

The interesting thing is I frequently saw young people looking at and buying used analog cameras in that store. That might be related to a couple of community colleges that still teach darkroom, but I'm not sure. The Burning Man festival is a big annual event here, and after the last one almost all film stock in the store was sold. I thought that was an unexpected surprise.

Dale

Chan Tran · Jun 30, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
The owner retired, but how was the business doing?

Obviously not so good otherwise he could sell it easily.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 30, 2019

images39 said:
My local photo/camera shop here in Reno closed today (Gordon's Photo Service). The owner is retiring after spending his whole working career in the photo business. I believe he opened his first store in this area in the early '80s. Great shop that supported analog photographers with film stock, darkroom supplies and a good stock of used film cameras. He and his store will be missed by us analog photographers in the Reno and Carson City area. I was in that store about once per week over the last few years. He told me that he loved the business, and that his work felt like being in a toy store for him. Also that he made so many friends and will miss the people most of all.

Another one of the good old photo stores is gone, and won't be replaced.

Dale

I wonder if it made sense today to open a new one and what it would look like and what it needed to carry; not so much for big profit but, running a toy store could still be fun.

AgX · Jun 30, 2019

But the boys for the toys are getting older...

BrianShaw · Jun 30, 2019

Vaughn said:
If you can't hang them, shoot them...

That’s a different thread...

TheFlyingCamera · Jun 30, 2019

I can't speak for other markets, but here in DC, Ace Photo out in Ashburn has acquired Dominion Camera in Falls Church and District Camera in DC, and just opened a new branch of District Camera in Arlington. They carry the usual suspects of digital gear, lighting equipment, tripods, bags, accessories, but they also carry a modest selection of b/w and color film in-store, and they have a healthy selection of used film cameras. And ProPhoto just moved to a much bigger space in the same complex where they were before. They carry film and darkroom supplies (still quite limited, but I do buy from them periodically to encourage them to keep stocking the stuff) and their big claim to fame is as a serious repair shop. I've had all three of my Rolleiflex cameras serviced there, as their owner is a long-time camera repairman - he may have even had Rollei factory training. Their repairs aren't cheap, but given the fact that they usually turn them around in under two weeks, the extra is worth it considering how long the backlog is at Fleenor or some of the other well-known repair shops.

Trail Images · Jun 30, 2019

Sorry to hear the update here. Years back here in So Cal we had plenty of drag strips, my earlier addiction, as well as camera stores everywhere. Sadly both are a bit of history these days. I've adapted on the camera / film front over the years with on line fixes. Not easy at times, but it's still working for me to date. Feel sorry for all the brick and mortar locales toppling from all the on line services. But life goes on even for us old guys.......

Kodachromeguy · Jun 30, 2019

TheFlyingCamera said:
.... And ProPhoto just moved to a much bigger space in the same complex where they were before. They carry film and darkroom supplies (still quite limited, but I do buy from them periodically to encourage them to keep stocking the stuff) and their big claim to fame is as a serious repair shop. I've had all three of my Rolleiflex cameras serviced there, as their owner is a long-time camera repairman - he may have even had Rollei factory training. Their repairs aren't cheap, but given the fact that they usually turn them around in under two weeks, the extra is worth it considering how long the backlog is at Fleenor or some of the other well-known repair shops.

Thank you! That is a valuable information about an option for Rolleiflex repair. Mr. Hama is also very busy.

faberryman · Jun 30, 2019

I thought there was a film renaissance. How could a camera store close, particularly one so devoted to analog?

MattKing · Jun 30, 2019

faberryman said:
I thought there was a film renaissance. How could a camera store close, particularly one so devoted to analog?

Because a huge percentage of people don't buy from stores like they used to.
They buy on price alone, and scan the internet to save $5.00 rather than spending a bit (or sometimes a lot) more at the local store.
Which mans those local stores close.

Sirius Glass · Jun 30, 2019

MattKing said:
Because a huge percentage of people don't buy from stores like they used to.
They buy on price alone, and scan the internet to save $5.00 rather than spending a bit (or sometimes a lot) more at the local store.
Which mans those local stores close.

Way back when I sold cameras, customers would take up the sales person's time learning about the camera and then drive 50 miles to save five dollars.

images39 · Jun 30, 2019

Just a bit of clarification, Gordon's in Reno closed because the owner retired, not because the store was no longer viable. People were still spending money there. His lab did a good business, so did his sales of used analog gear. He could have stayed open, but wanted to spend more time with his elderly father. As to why he didn't sell the business, one reason he had a good customer base was due to his knowledge and customer service. It would probably be hard to find a good buyer who could maintain that, particularly in a small market like ours.

Dale

btaylor · Jun 30, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
Way back when I sold cameras, customers would take up the sales person's time learning about the camera and then drive 50 miles to save five dollars.

People are funny that way. I am really glad Freestyle still has their retail store open. Back in the day it was packed with pros picking up bricks of film, lighting bits, lab supplies. It’s pretty quiet now when I drop in on the occasional Saturday. When I do in-store pickup the hour I spent driving to and from hardly seems worth the $12 or so it would cost to just ship it. I do like being able to visit the store though.

Sirius Glass · Jun 30, 2019

btaylor said:
People are funny that way. I am really glad Freestyle still has their retail store open. Back in the day it was packed with pros picking up bricks of film, lighting bits, lab supplies. It’s pretty quiet now when I drop in on the occasional Saturday. When I do in-store pickup the hour I spent driving to and from hardly seems worth the $12 or so it would cost to just ship it. I do like being able to visit the store though.

I drive a half hour to FreeStyle to keep them in business, although I could get it with free shipping and no sales tax.

My Local Photo Store Closed Today

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