Help Rebuild Central Camera

Beautiful HO-scale model of Central Camera by Aristoteles Held,
from clevermodels.net. The real building is a row storefront.

We can pitch in to help rebuild Chicago's venerated Central Camera Co., which was looted and burned during the recent rioting in Chicago.

Central Camera has been owned by one family and operated continuously in the same location since 1899, when photography itself was a mere stripling of 60. Since then it has been a familiar fixture in the downtown Loop district in Chicago, Illinois, under the El, the elevated train tracks. It had been one of the survivors among old-line camera stores whose numbers are dwindling.

The store is apparently a near-total loss. Third-generation owner Don Flesch, grandson of the founder, has put up a Go Fund Me page and is asking for donations toward rebuilding.

Photo by Leo Kawczinsky

Photo by Ken Tanaka

Don began working in the store when he was a teenager in the 1950s. He says on the Go Fund Me page, "Although this is a tough time for the store, it doesn’t compare to the loss of George Floyd’s life and the countless other Black lives lost. We stand with the African American community in solidarity." There is no bitterness in his heart. You should watch the local CBS affiliate's interview with Don on the night of the 30th. The interviewer is trying to elicit emotion from him but Don is accepting and good-humored, already putting events into perspective. His only true complaint is that he ran out of film and his phone wasn't charged, so he couldn't take any more pictures. Just as a reminder, there are several Go Fund Me pages for the family of George Floyd.

Central Camera has always been a "must visit" for many longtime photography aficionados during visits to the Windy City. But I'm hopeful that we're not going to be losing it for good.

Mike

P.S. We don't have explicit permission to use this picture but I hope Aristoteles Held won't mind under the circumstances. [UPDATE: Thanks to the dozens of people who sent many many pictures of Central Camera, and thanks to Leo and Ken for the two published here. I don't need any more, but thanks!]

Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Robert Harshman: "So sad, senseless. Also, what you may not know Central was the only camera store left in the city of Chicago. It's really going hinder all the photography students in the immediate area and there are a lot."

Chappy Achen: "I use to fly for a company based in Minnesota and we often traveled to Chicago, landing downtown at what was known as Meigs Field, before Mayor Daley illegally tore it up. Today its a beautiful park, but it was close to downtown Chicago and I would take a cab into town and straight to Central Camera. I was young and on a limited budget always came home with something to add to my darkroom or camera accessories. It was a wonderful store. I use to fly all over the country and I knew the locations and names of all the wonderful stores that sold new and used equipment. It was a great way to add to your equipment because it wasn't outmoded in two years."

Dave Karp: "So sad about Central and everything else that has given rise to these protests. Sometimes I despair.

"I only met Don once that I remember. I visited the store on a trip to Chicago in summer 2017 with my wife and kids. I am sure that he was in the store in the days when my dad took me to Central when I was a kid. My family moved from Chicago after going to college, so I was never an adult customer.

"I needed an SD card, but I really just wanted to see the store. We dropped in and ended up staying a long time and talking to Don. There were lots of great boxes of treasures, great old cameras and lenses in the display cases, and photos of his family members high up on the walls. We spent a lot of time talking about whatever. My wife took his portrait. Don fed all of us cookies. It was really nice. A highlight of the trip. Lots of students from the local colleges shop for paper, film, and other supplies there. Losing the shop will impact them too.

"Just rambling. Lots of people suffering to various degrees in ways they don't deserve."

Kenneth Tanaka: "Your brief piece captures the gist, Mike. Central is one of Chicago's quiet landmarks. I've literally seen people take photos of the store as if they were standing at the Lincoln Monument. (Strangely, I could not find a single photo of the outside in my archive.) It was a small, very old-style shop with one straight aisle bordered by typical glass cases and shelves stuffed with mostly dusty old used camera gear. Behind those counters were old guys who had worked at the shop for many years and who knew all about those old relics.

"I believe the main source of their business has long been several nearby schools that sent student business to them (film processing, used camera discounts, etc.). But with the schools and shop both closed due to COVID-19 they must have been hurting.

"Whether or not they really can, or even should, re-open I cannot say. I can say that it will be a while, maybe years.

"Personal note: As I write this from my home, literally a short walk from Central, the entire central district of downtown (including me) is locked-down. The bridges over the Chicago River were raised to block access from the north and west. Only four controlled-access streets are open to enter the Loop...and they're reminiscent of Berlin's old 'Checkpoint Charlie.' My own building is locked-down from 9:00 to 6:00 [I assume p.m. to a.m.? —Ed]. I have not yet been brave enough to survey the damage in the area personally...but the coverage I've seen is really bad. Central Camera is one of literally hundreds of businesses that have been destroyed so far by opportunists with no real relation to the genuine peaceful protests that continue to take place everywhere.

"I can't avoid the impression that we're seeing the dawn of a very dystopian new age for America. Maybe it's time for Don Flesch, a genuinely nice and generous fellow, to call it a day."

Comments

[Leo Kawczinski]

My company's office is a few blocks from Central Camera. One of my favorite lunchtime activities is to take my camera for a walk, because it needs the exercise. Here's a photo I took of Central Camera a couple of years ago on one of those walks.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c4QBB1wKeV5EHmFlPaM7dJ4aa21TvgUf/view?usp=sharing

[Kurt Kramer]

I have photographs of the Central Camera store. Thought I had your e-mail address, but I guess I don't. If you send it to me, I will send you the photos.

[J Williams]

I saw the interview with the owner. He seemed like a great person who was not dwelling on what had to be a great loss for him personally, but instead being thankful nobody had been injured. I thought to myself that if the world had more people like him the things that are going on right now probably would not be be happening. Apparently he managed to salvage the first camera that was ever sold by the store. Good to see a tiny bit of good for him out of all that tragedy.

[Michael]

As a native Chicagoan and then a Milwaukeean, and then a Minneapolisean, (just made up that last one), I had the great pleasure of frequenting many of the old time, long established camera stores. Central Camera was but one of many that was in their heyday back when I first became interested in photography.

Now at 73 years old, I am feeling nostalgic and frankly quite sad that the pillars of the business are crumbling. Central's place in Chicago history will always be in my memory bank, as long as it is still plugged in. It will be alongside of Oak Park Camera, Reimers, National Camera.

I just watched the news interview that was recorded live on Saturday night. Don is unbelievable in his resolve to rebuild and for recognizing the reasons behind this latest national unrest.

I can not write anymore at this moment.

[John Krumm]

Thanks for posting this. I was just listening to my favorite podcast, longtime Chicago radio show This Is Hell, and the host was talking about this very thing. My daughter lives in an apartment with her boyfriend two blocks from Lake Avenue in Minneapolis, which looks like a war zone in parts. She has been going to regular meetings with the building tenants and they set up a food shelf. She took a midnight shift to watch the back entrance. The community solidarity is strong. Now they need good, creative leadership from the government.

[JimH]

Try this: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Central+Camera+Company/@41.8785628,-87.6262492,3a,90y,280h,110t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipNGYUdMi3FFx0Wquv5t7uXrPZFluTILEdZRIGuv!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNGYUdMi3FFx0Wquv5t7uXrPZFluTILEdZRIGuv%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-20-ya289.0782-ro-0-fo100!7i13312!8i6656!4m7!3m6!1s0x880e2ca308403ec9:0xc84597b68faef953!8m2!3d41.87858!4d-87.6262814!14m1!1BCgIgARICCAI

I think I bought my Spotmatic from them in 1971.

[Matt Kallio]

Great to see that interview -- thank you for sharing it. My favorite part was when he interrups the usual news interview segue to shakes the interviewer's hand and then asks the name of the cameraman too. At once, everyone was a human being instead of something on TV. Don's class act certainly reflects well on us photography guys.
But he ran out of *film*??

[John Krill]

You have interesting DB program. Yea, the one called "I can't find one." Seems to me I have heard you mention that name several times.

Just kidding.

[MarkB]

Oh no! My hometown camera store! Sure, you could find cheaper prices at B&H from NYC, or a wider selection at Calumet on Goose Island, but you'd never get better advice than from Don and the folks at Central. You can tell he's a mensch from his reaction to all of this.

[Kenneth Wajda]

Here you go, Mike. Shot with a 4x5 Busch Pressman in 2017 while working in Chicago on a commercial shoot.

https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E22AQH2-TCntlB8Qw/feedshare-shrink_800/0?e=1594252800&v=beta&t=IycCb_sBfdlbqqjJ-zVFsc8Fay2yTcse-6b9hY6XUyo

[Stan B.]

The neon sign alone is a national treasure!

[Gary]

I am so sorry this happened. Anyone who is loyal to a local camera store must be grieving. I would have hatred in my heart and not good humor. This destruction has nothing to do with civil rights. It plays into the hands of those in power who would set us back.

[Crabby Umbo]

So sorry to see this...even in the day of the "big box" suppliers like Calumet, there was always a reason to pop in to Central and see what was in the used cases...my buddy told me he bought his first pack of black & white printing paper at Central when he was going to Columbia for photography, many moons ago!

I saw people donating even 10 bucks on the fund-me page, every little bit helps. I always try to donate 20 bucks every month to a non-profit or food kitchen. I worked out one time that if there were 100,000 household in your community, and they all donated a measly 20 bucks a month to something, anything; they could push 24 million into needy institutions! Something to ponder!

[Jeff1000]

Wow, just wow. The burning and looting of Central Camera has absolutely nothing to do with George Floyd. Mr. Flesch should be outraged instead of parroting totalitarian talking points.

[george andros]

In 1948 I got my first camera from Central Camera, an Argus C3. I sent a donation about equal to the cost of that camera at the time my father purchased it for me: $30.00. As I recall sales tax was 3%.

[Bjorn]

Hi Mike

For some reason I only have this one picture of the store sign, don't know if it will help you.
https://photobybjorn.smugmug.com/Travel/i-WDVZ8WP/A

Kind regards
Bjorn, occasional tourist in Chicago.

[Earl Dunbar]

I remember staring into the front windows of Central Camera when I was (relatively) young and visited Chicago occasionally - I think I went in once, and it was a wonderland. I actually shopped more at Helix, since at the time I was more interested in 4x5 equipment. I had purchased a Toyo 4x5 and a couple of lenses from Helix, though by mail (remember mail order catalogs?!) and when I bought a Fujinon 400-T it was at the Helix store in Chicago.

These days I would spend more time in a place like Central Camera. And I’ll certainly contribute to their GoFundMe.

[Tom Liles]

Hello Mike, thank you and well done for sharing this. I donated $10.

I'm a basic freelance photographer, I don't have a lot to give, especially right now—but I don't have it as bad as many, as this post easily demonstrates, and so what little I can afford to give, I do. I'll skip lunch and a coffee today for Central Camera. It's as easy as that.

I encourage everyone to do something, if they can. Best wishes.

Cheers. Tom.

[wts]

@Crabby Umbo:
"...and [if] they all donated a measly 20 bucks a month to something, anything; they could push 24 million into needy institutions!"
That's what a fair tax system would do. Whereas ours in the US pushes so much to the military and the uber wealthy, that the needy institution that would help the poor and middle class gets but a fraction.
And watch the powerful attack even the most efficient and useful institutions like Social Security and Medicare to hasten their demise as independent institutions not now shoving their wealth upwards.
Losing a historical treasures like Central Camera is not the same as losing the local chain store. Boston has set up a program to help the small independent businesses that have been damaged. Maybe Chicago is doing the same.