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.