Toronto. How sad. It was announced today that Black’s has folded and will close the last 50+ stores in early August. Heavens, Black’s is older than me. I spent many a lunch hour visiting the local Black’s to have my colour photographs processed and printed.
The once bustling family business sold non-photographic items initially. A growth in cameras spawned the chain’s focus on developing and printing including its innovative 4 x 6 inch colour print. In 1985 the family sold out to Scott’s Hospitality who in turn sold the chain to Fuji Photo Film Canada less a decade later in 1993. In 2009 the much reduced chain was sold once again, this time to Telus after their cell phone competition, Bell Mobility, bought the Source chain.
In the heyday of Black’s, I couldn’t do better or cheaper at home. Sadly In recent decades digital has all but eliminated film processing and smart phones have crushed the habit of buying prints – why bother with a print when you can see your photo immediately and send it on its way wirelessly, across town or around the world. (My friend George Dunbar insists prints are the only way to ensure “seeability” in future years when we no longer use jpgs, hard drives, computers etc as we know them today.)
I was surprised western-based Telus decided to close shop rather than use the stores to promote their own cell business here in the east like Bell does with their Source stores.
So is Black’s another victim of the digital era – or indifferent management? You can read more about Black’s here in the Toronto Star article or by doing a Google search.
