Monday, January 9, 2017

In a Flash! Showcase to Shutter

Landmark photo and video store to close 

Showcase Photo & Video and its sibling enterprise, The Showcase School, will both close February 28th.  The main store, a local mainstay for about 40 years, is located at the corner of LaVista and Cheshire Bridge Roads in an outparcel of the Publix / Tara Theater anchored Cheshire Square shopping center.  The Showcase School, which was launched in 1996, is located less than a mile from the retail store on Sheridan Road, just off Cheshire Bridge Road.

The company confirmed the news last week in an email to customers and later made an announcement on their website. 

"SHOWCASE, INC AND THE SHOWCASE SCHOOL WILL CLOSE ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2017. 

But, no worries!  All Showcase School classes will go on as scheduled through February.  We can’t thank you enough for your support and friendship over the last 20 years at the school and 40 years at the store.  If you have a School Gift Card, you may redeem it for remaining classes or it will be honored at the Showcase retail store until February 28."

As anyone in the photo or video industries would tell you, there are few places in Atlanta or anywhere that can match the knowledge and variety offered at Showcase.  As described on the company's website, Showcase offered an experience unlike any other:

"As Atlanta’s Premier Authorized dealer for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic, Fuji, Blackmagic Design, Olympus and more, Showcase Inc. Photo & Video has been serving the Southeast’s professional and enthusiast photographers and videographers for nearly 40 years. Our team of photo and video experts along with our comprehensive selection of products guarantees the latest in digital photography gear as well as state-of-the-art video production equipment and services."

Showcase will be the second significant photo store to close in just the past few months.  This past fall, The Camera Doctor, a popular Decatur business, closed at the corner of Clairmont and North Decatur Roads after 25 years in business. 

The Showcase retail store is located in an outparcel of the Halpern Enterprises-owned Cheshire Square but is reportedly not part of the center itself.  Property records indicate the building is 17,414 square feet and was built in 1967.  

Leather & Luggage Depot, another locally owned Atlanta business, is in the final days of its liquidation sale with its last day in business currently scheduled for this Saturday, January 14th. 

It's sad to see so many local businesses close, but the broad offerings and economic options offered by online merchants are making operating local brick and mortar stores an ever more challenging endeavor.  

It's worth noting, Wing's Camera & Digital, located at Briarcliff & Clairmont Roads in the Williamsburg Village shopping center, has been in business over 100 years.  The family-owned business was started by Henry Wing in 1912 and was originally located at 8 Pryor Street in downtown Atlanta.  The shop later moved to East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead before eventually relocating to their present location.  

Are you surprised to see Showcase Photo & Video and The Showcase School close?  Where do you do most of you camera equipment purchasing?  What would you like to see open in place Showcase Photo & Video?

Please share your thoughts below.   

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

closer to 35 years I think. I definitely recall eating at Farmer John's when I was around 9 or 10...

~mindspringyahoo

Atlantan99 said...

@Mindspringyahoo,

Maybe it moved? The Secretary of State shows the company was established in 1976 and the Showcase website says "celebrating 40 years." I'm not old enough to remember but I know its been there as long as I've been alive.

Thanks as always for your readership and comments, I appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

I think 40 sounds about right - they always placed a big ad in our yearbooks from Briarcliff Community Sports and I started playing there in the mid to late 70s. Sad to see it close. A professional photographer friend directed me back there a few years ago when I was shopping for a new Canon. Great experience.

Thanks for the tip about Wings since I need to find a new place now.

Anonymous said...

It was Farmer John's buffet in the 80s I think closed in about 1985

Anonymous said...

Per the April 18, 1980 Southern Israelite: "The Thursday Singles will get together for dinner at Farmer John's Restaurant at Cheshire Bridge Rd at 7pm, Thursday April 24. Cost of the all you can eat supper is $3.25."

Anonymous said...

Unconfirmed, but I heard Walgreens and CVS might be interested in the spot. If true, I guess CVS sees it as a better location than the current location across Cheshire Bridge. It's nice to see some seemingly good local businesses in that shopping center, including the new dance school and the ramen spot (yum).

Anonymous said...

I know that isn't the original building but I can't remember for the life of me where it moved from.

Ham said...

I hate to see Showcase close I purchased my last two cameras there and got great service and more importantly great advice. I suppose with on-line retailers offering lower prices I can understand, but quite honestly I was always willing to pay a little more for the knowledge Showcase provided. I suspect smart phones have also contributed to the closing as most folks just want an average camera and the phone can now provide that.

Unknown said...

The ShowCase Loaction was Originally called the Pro Drive In.
I was to compete with the Varsity JR. across the Street.
ShowCase was or started in the FleeMarket at Piedmont and Lindberg.

As to Camera Repairs take your equipment to Wing's Camera.
Briarcliff and Clairmont. They also will get your film and digital images printed to Real photographic Paper.

* As a foot note . The reason brick and mortar shops are closing/
Too many people are buying on the NET. And who will be around to show you how to use your cameras. (Just saying)

Just like going to the barber shops. You can not get that
service done over the Net.

Anonymous said...

Sad to hear that Showcase is closing. I miss brick and mortar stores. How are you supposed to compare photographic papers without seeing them? Find the right shoe size without trying them on? I took some terrific classes at the Showcase School a decade ago.

phil c said...

I believe the Showcase building was originally the "Braves-Falcons Lounge in the late '60's. As Dekalb County was dry until the early '70's, it was just past the Fulton / Dekalb border further up Lavista Rd. (where commercial stops and residential begins). The old joke for DeKalb residents is that you could always tell when you left DeKalb County 'cuz thee would be either a bar or liquor store within a hundred feet. Hence Green's on Buford Hwy and Happy Hermans on Cheshire Bridge.

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