Central Camera

Central Camera is a camera shop at 230 South Wabash[1] in Chicago, Illinois.[2] It 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".[7] In 2020, it was burned in a two-alarm fire during the George Floyd protests.[8] The owner has stated his intention to repair and reopen the store.[9][10] As of June 12, 2020, a GoFundMe has raised over $200,000 for rebuilding.[11] As of October 2020, the business had been operating in an adjacent vacant storefront while rebuilding was taking place.[12]

The neon sign above the store in 2010
The store at night in 2012

References
  1. Chicago Central Business and Office Building Directory. Winters Publishing Company. 1922.
  2. Rosca, Emily (October 2, 2019). "Film Photography Perseveres in 120-Year-Old Central Camera". Loyola Phoenix. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  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 2021-02-09.
  5. Lonsdorf, Kat (May 3, 2016). "Central Camera is stocked with film, lenses, and 117 years of history". Medill Reports Chicago. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  6. Ben-Amots, Zach (November 1, 2019). "Central Camera serves 120 years of photographers in downtown Chicago". ABC7 Chicago. WLS-TV. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  7. "Made In Chicago: Central Camera". WBBM (AM). February 10, 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  8. "Central Camera Company damaged in extra-alarm fire amid downtown protests". Chicago Sun-Times. May 31, 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  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 2020-05-31.
  10. "Owner Vows To Rebuild After Central Camera Fire" (video). WBBM-TV. May 31, 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  11. Barnes, Paige (June 12, 2020). "Columbia community shares memories after fire destroys beloved Loop camera shop". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  12. Jennings, Noah (October 16, 2020). "Same store, same history, new location: Central Camera prepares to reopen". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
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