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Central Camera

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The neon sign above the store in 2010
Inside the store in 2013
The store at night in 2012
The store in 2020, boarded up after the George Floyd protests
A note left on the store after it was burned in 2020

Central Camera is a camera shop at 230 South Wabash[1] in Chicago, Illinois.[2]

History

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Central Camera is the oldest camera store in the city. It opened in 1899 at 31 Adams Street.[2] It was started by a Hungarian immigrant,[3] moved to its current South Loop location in 1929[4] and is currently operated by a third-generation owner.[5][6] In 2020, radio station WBBM referred to it as "a museum of photography", due to the large number of historic cameras in the store.[7]

In 2020, it was burned in a two-alarm fire during the George Floyd protests.[8] The owner stated his intention to repair and reopen the store.[9][10] A GoFundMe campaign had raised over $200,000 for rebuilding by mid-June 2020,[11] with the first donation being $1,899 (the number representing the year that the store opened).[12] While rebuilding took place, the business operated in an adjacent vacant storefront.[13] The store reopened in June 2022.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Chicago Central Business and Office Building Directory. Winters Publishing Company. 1922.
  2. ^ a b Rosca, Emily (October 2, 2019). "Film Photography Perseveres in 120-Year-Old Central Camera". Loyola Phoenix. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  3. ^ Bizzarri, Amy (2015). Discovering Vintage Chicago: A Guide to the City's Timeless Shops, Bars, Delis & More. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4930-1406-4.
  4. ^ "Central Camera Rises From the Ashes After Looting, Fire". WTTW News. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  5. ^ Lonsdorf, Kat (May 3, 2016). "Central Camera is stocked with film, lenses, and 117 years of history". Medill Reports Chicago. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  6. ^ Ben-Amots, Zach (November 1, 2019). "Central Camera serves 120 years of photographers in downtown Chicago". ABC7 Chicago. WLS-TV. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. ^ "Made In Chicago: Central Camera". WBBM (AM). February 10, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. ^ "Central Camera Company damaged in extra-alarm fire amid downtown protests". Chicago Sun-Times. May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  9. ^ Elejalde-Ruiz, Alexia (May 31, 2020). "Central Camera, iconic Loop business for 121 years, vows to rebuild as building burns during unrest over George Floyd death". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  10. ^ "Owner Vows To Rebuild After Central Camera Fire" (video). WBBM-TV. May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  11. ^ Barnes, Paige (June 12, 2020). "Columbia community shares memories after fire destroys beloved Loop camera shop". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  12. ^ Salfiti, Zinya (August 17, 2022). "Central Camera Co. stays focused". Chicago Reader. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  13. ^ Jennings, Noah (October 16, 2020). "Same store, same history, new location: Central Camera prepares to reopen". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "Central Camera Reopens 122-Year-Old Loop Shop After 2020 Fire, Looting: 'I'm So Happy This Place Is Still Here'". Block Club Chicago. June 16, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Central Camera.

* ABC 7 Chicago news report about Central Camera

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