Edhat Staff
Photos by Patti Gutshall
By edhat staff
Samy’s Camera will close their State Street location on Saturday after serving the local area for over 20 years.
Edhat reader Patti Gutshall captured photos of the signs posted outside the store in the 500 block of State Street, the last remaining location in Santa Barbara County. Edhat readers report there was no advance notice to customers as the store is currently being packed up.
“For over 20 years Samy’s Camera has serviced the Santa Barbara community, we are sad to announce the closing of this location effective Saturday, June 29, 2019. We appreciate your loyal patronage and support over the years, and we hope to continue to service you at one of our alternative locations or on-line,” the sign reads.
Samy’s Camera has remaining locations in Los Angeles, Culver City, Pasadena, Santa Ana, and San Francisco.
That was Westbury’s camera store near the Granada Bldg location, and where Gramaphone was also located – done in by Borders who intentionally underpriced them and then stopped carrying classical CDs, tapes and videos once they ran Gramaphone out of business. There was also a fine jewelry store on almost every block too. Different shopping habits back then – investments; not throw aways.
And Russ started out at Anderson’s and opened his store down at 1025 State and was there for about 40 years and the only last real camera store on State until Samy’s.