Montreal's photography community is losing a cherished institution as Photo Service, the iconic camera shop in Old Montreal, prepares to close its doors permanently on January 3, 2026, after 89 years of continuous operation.
The End of an Era
Jean-Charles Savard, the current owner who represents the third generation of his family to run the business, described the emotional moment he sent the announcement email to customers on Monday. "I took a minute to process the emotions it brought up," Savard revealed, acknowledging the weight of closing a business that has been part of Montreal's photographic landscape since 1937.
The store's history dates back to January 30, 1937, when Savard's grandparents, Joseph-Henry Savard and Simonne Desautels, purchased Studio Rivoli, a black-and-white photo lab on St-Denis Street. The business later moved to its current Notre-Dame Street West location in 1945 and was renamed Photo Service.
A Family Legacy
Following her husband's death in 1961, Simonne Desautels took full control of the shop, which at its peak employed approximately 100 people across retail, repair, laboratory, and photography school services. "It was really my grandmother's business," Savard noted. "She had the photo school, then they started the photo store together but my impression is she had the initial impulse."
Savard, now 58, took over from his father Pierre-Henri in 2000 and was later joined by his sister Mireille, who manages the film processing lab that has earned a reputation as one of the city's best. While the physical store will close, the processing and archiving services will continue through a partnership with Kant Photo on Stanley Street, though specific details remain to be finalized.
Overwhelming Response from Community
Since announcing the closure, Savard has received more than 100 emails and hundreds of social media comments from loyal customers and photography enthusiasts expressing their sadness. "Photo Service is a real institution," Savard said. "Even if we weren't the biggest, we were in second place at one point behind Lozeau," which closed in 2022.
He reflected on the store's specialized role in Montreal's photography scene: "I feel like I am part of something bigger than me. That's why people are reacting so strongly. We were the pro store for photography but we never managed to get out of that niche, though I tried with video, drones, binoculars, telescopes."
Multiple Factors Led to Closure
Savard cited several challenges that contributed to the difficult decision to close. Financial pressures have mounted over the past decade, exacerbated by what he describes as urban changes under Mayor Valérie Plante's administration that made downtown access and parking more difficult for customers.
A significant blow came from Sony's refusal to recognize Photo Service as an authorized retailer, despite the store's efforts and reputation. "We're almost the only store of this size in Canada not to be recognized," Savard noted, describing the situation as unexplained.
Additional pressures included slim profit margins in the photography industry and intense competition from online retailers like Amazon. After selling the building earlier this year, Savard spent months searching for an affordable lease space but found nothing viable.
Final Days and Moving Forward
Photo Service is currently selling its remaining inventory at reduced prices, generating significant interest from customers. "I've received 50 or 60 emails from people wanting to buy equipment from our rental department," Savard said, noting they may need to allocate popular items by lottery given the high demand.
Despite the sadness surrounding the closure, Savard has found peace with the decision. "In a way, it's a liberation," he admitted. "I won't be working six days a week." The closure will also provide him with his first vacation in years.
As he prepares to turn the final page in his family's business history, Savard remains philosophical: "At some point, when you have breathed in the emotion, lived it and accepted it, like everything, it passes. Sure, it's a big deal. I see it in the emails and testimonials on Facebook. It's a shock. It's not any business that's closing."
The store will remain open until January 3, 2026, welcoming longtime customers and photography enthusiasts who want to visit this Montreal institution one last time.
