Another store bites the dust

[lenser]

Lawrence Photo in Springfield, Mo announced today that they will close sometime in May. While their darkroom and film sections had dwindled drastically over the last few years, some things were still available and they did have a good line of lighting and studio gear.

This leaves us in the center of a range of about 200 miles in every direction to real camera stores in St. Louis, Kansas City, Ft. Smith Arkansas and a handful of others, but all at least half a day away.

They are currently having serious sales on everything in the store for anyone interested in checking their site or calling at 417-883-8300.

I will mostly miss the great and knowledgeable staff with whom I've dealt for the last four decades.

[neil poulsen]

I feel quite fortunate here in Portland. We have an excellent and busy Pro Photo Supply, and just reopened Citizens Photo offers dip and dunk 4x5 C41 processing locally and is in the testing phase to offer E6 dip and dunk.

[John Kasaian]

I feel your pain.
The is some 4x5 stuff locally as I live in a college town, but none of the larger formats which I shoot. I still support my local store by purchasing chemicals from them.
I mail order the rest and make twice yearly jaunts to Freestyle since Calumet is pushing up the posies.

[Tin Can]

I never go to those distress sales. Far too much like vultures eating the dead.

[David Karp]

Randy, I understand how you feel, but maybe they need the money.

[Tin Can]

Randy, I understand how you feel, but maybe they need the money.

I'm sure they do and others will buy.

I didn't put them under. I buy enough LF for 10 people and I get criticized for it. Here on this forum. As if there was a shortage...

[David Karp]

I can't understand why anyone would criticize you for that. You are so enthusiastic and seem to be having so much fun doing LF. If they are not happy about what you do pertaining to LF, then they are the ones with a problem.

I miss old style camera stores. Is Central still like it was many years ago? Boxes of misc. stuff, treasures to be found?

[Tin Can]

I can't understand why anyone would criticize you for that. You are so enthusiastic and seem to be having so much fun doing LF. If they are not happy about what you do pertaining to LF, then they are the ones with a problem.

I miss old style camera stores. Is Central still like it was many years ago? Boxes of misc. stuff, treasures to be found?

Thanks David. I know I should not let unhappy people get under my skin, but I have thin skin. Actually thin skin!

I stop at Central Camera as often as possible, have a quick chat with Don the owner, never waste his time, and usually buy film. I also get a Chicago style Italian Beef right next door, cheap and great. Then a walk in Millennium Park and back on the EL for home in minutes.

The shop is the same wonderful place with all kinds of treasures. I always look at as much as possible. 2 weeks ago he showed me a nice Seneca 8x10 with OE bellows. I will most likely be there next week to discuss the Ilford Special Cut. And there was an odd little item I hope he still has, I had bought my daily limit.

I will be in that area Sunday for Chicago LF Club, we meet near Central Camera, but it's closed Sunday.

:)

[David Karp]

Bringing back memories. My dad used to take me there. Also took me to Altman's, which is long gone, where I purchased my first enlarger many years ago. My dad and I split the cost actually. I still have it! Italian beef. Mmmmm.

[Tin Can]

Bringing back memories. My dad used to take me there. Also took me to Altman's, which is long gone, where I purchased my first enlarger many years ago. My dad and I split the cost actually. I still have it! Italian beef. Mmmmm.

Altman's just closed. I never knew their vintage NOS shoe storage went 6 stories underground. They are merging the 2 Wabash EL stops into one Modern one, the street is changing appearance. :( What if they paint the EL white! Ugh!

I stayed at the Palmer House for $75, 11/3/2008. At Miller's, I met a lady from California in for the event and gave her my ticket to the speech. She was so excited. it was a crazy night. Miller's was packed till 4am.

[David Karp]

Randy, I think you are thinking about this store: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141013/downtown/after-47-years-marty-altmans-downtown-shoe-emporium-gets-boot. I was thinking of this store, which I called Altman's, but is more properly called Altman Camera, I guess: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?87945-Altman-Camera.

At any rate, sad to see the old time camera stores and the help of their knowledgeable employees disappearing.

[Tin Can]

Randy, I think you are thinking about this store: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141013/downtown/after-47-years-marty-altmans-downtown-shoe-emporium-gets-boot. I was thinking of this store, which I called Altman's, but is more properly called Altman Camera, I guess: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?87945-Altman-Camera.

At any rate, sad to see the old time camera stores and the help of their knowledgeable employees disappearing.

David, you are correct, I never knew of Altman's Cameras. I prefered Central Camera over anything I knew of. I used a couple service bureau's for a time, they also have gone or drastically changed.

[Sal Santamaura]

Randy, I think you are thinking about this store: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141013/downtown/after-47-years-marty-altmans-downtown-shoe-emporium-gets-boot...Thanks for that link. I hadn't heard of that store and have never even been in Chicago, but the closing of Altman's Shoes makes me more sad than any camera store going out of business. Today I can't get shoes that fit properly or aren't made in China of toxic-smelling materials. Who knows, if you'd posted that article before last December, I might have made my first-ever visit to Chicago and bought a lifetime supply of shoes. :D

[David Karp]

Hi Sal,

It might have been worth the trip! I guess they could have found a new location, but decided not to do that.

Randy, here is another thread on Altman Camera: http://www.apug.org/forums/forum45/60459-altman-camera-company.html. Its funny, I always thought that my memories exaggerated the size of the store and the variety of equipment there, but I guess not! I remember as a 12, 13, 14 year old kid being intimidated by the sales people. I just wanted to look at stuff and be left alone. I was really pumped up the day we purchased our enlarger. Even riding up the escalator to the darkroom department was exciting that day.

[r_a_feldman]

The Chicago store I miss is Darkroom Aids, which used to be on North Lincoln Avenue west of Wrigley Field. It must have gone out of business 15-20 years ago now. I used to live in the neighborhood and would walk over often. Bought a used Honeywell Repronar there as well as some 4x5 film holders. They had these enormous process cameras and a whole room of used stainless steel darkroom sinks.

Bob

[Tin Can]

The Chicago store I miss is Darkroom Aids, which used to be on North Lincoln Avenue west of Wrigley Field. It must have gone out of business 15-20 years ago now. I used to live in the neighborhood and would walk over often. Bought a used Honeywell Repronar there as well as some 4x5 film holders. They had these enormous process cameras and a whole room of used stainless steel darkroom sinks.

Bob

Never knew of them. I do have a Honeywell Repronar, it was minty and I have changed it to digi copy MF. Most likely I bought the Repronar from a former worker at Darkroom Aids as he lives in the area and talked of someplace like you speak of.

[appletree]

A camera store that had an escalator? Wow, how I live in a different time.
I did visit a really neat three-story camera store in Prague.

And sad to see any camera store go. I fear about the future of Camera Co-op in Houston. Last time I was in there no film and slim on chemicals. They are supposedly moving locations, but man its gotta be rough. I usually try to buy a few things just to help out. Bought my one and only LF lens from them, even though it was 20% more than eBay, etc. It was in M/NM condition and I got to see it first hand...and shown exactly how to use it and all that. Nothing like a young person being taught from those of past generations. I love saving a buck, but eBay cannot replicate meeting enthusiastic people and talking photography.

[Tin Can]

A camera store that had an escalator? Wow, how I live in a different time.
I did visit a really neat three-story camera store in Prague.

And sad to see any camera store go. I fear about the future of Camera Co-op in Houston. Last time I was in there no film and slim on chemicals. They are supposedly moving locations, but man its gotta be rough. I usually try to buy a few things just to help out. Bought my one and only LF lens from them, even though it was 20% more than eBay, etc. It was in M/NM condition and I got to see it first hand...and shown exactly how to use it and all that. Nothing like a young person being taught from those of past generations. I love saving a buck, but eBay cannot replicate meeting enthusiastic people and talking photography.

It's way better to shop a lens and shutter in hand than buy online. I try to buy from friends, both at home and here.

You are doing fine, I only got into LF a few years ago, when I joined here, and I consider myself a bumbling, hobbyist, beginner. But I like it. :)