Peoria photography store to close after 84 years in business

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – Over 84 years, Peoria Camera Shop survived changes in location and changes in how people took and preserved photographs. But it appears it might not survive the death of ‘œThe Camera Guy.’� Located at the Metro Centre shopping plaza, Peoria Camera Shop plans to close for good Feb. 25. Its photo-processing laboratory probably will shutter next week, although the store is to continue to sell cameras, lenses and other equipment through February, the Journal Star reports. The unexpected passing of Bill Dobbins, who purchased the store in 2007, led to the closure, according to his son, Nate Dobbins. The elder Dobbins, a Morton resident, was 61 when he died two days before Christmas. ‘œI feel like I’m bragging by saying this, but I feel like it’s a huge loss for the community,’� Nate Dobbins said about the store’s impending closure. ‘œIt’s a huge loss for my family. But … this is the next step for my family in our grieving process.’� A real-life time machine:These Facebook pages serve slices of Peoria nostalgia Eric Brinker, the Metro Centre president, told the Journal Star he is working with the Dobbins family to try to find a potential buyer. ‘œBill built such a strong business, with over 30 years of history, and we want to do whatever we can to preserve his legacy and see it continue to thrive for years to come,’� Brinker stated in an email. Darla Dobbins, Bill Dobbins’ widow, is the store’s co-owner. Nate Dobbins and his three sisters also survive Bill Dobbins, as do 13 grandchildren. Bill Dobbins operated the Peoria Camera Shop printing lab for 17 years before he took over the entire operation. Before that, he was a professional photographer. ‘œHe was kind of known as ‘˜The Camera Guy,’ at least around Morton,’� Nate Dobbins said. ‘œYou’d always see him carrying his camera around.’� The business long was located in Downtown Peoria Peoria Camera Shop carried photographic devices from the day it opened, in 1937 along Monroe Street in Downtown Peoria. In 1950, the Downtown store moved to 539 Main St. and remained there for 46 years. In 1990, Peoria Camera Shop opened its Metro Centre location. The business had several owners, including founders Joe Kilton and Huber Sammis, before Bill Dobbins purchased it. From then, Nate Dobbins was the store manager. He started working there when he was a teenager. Operating its film processor was among his initial duties. But in 2018, the younger Dobbins left his father’s employ and became a stay-at-home father of three, including twin girls who now are 3. Dobbins’ wife, Leah, is a physician. In 2020, they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. Your stories live here. Fuel your hometown passion and plug into the stories that define it. Create Account Historic Peoria shopping center:’˜The location is personal’: Peoria shopping center soon to mark 50 years in business Nate Dobbins’ departure changed the calculus regarding the Peoria Camera Shop future. ‘œThe initial line of succession five years ago was me,’� Dobbins said from his new home. ‘œBut when I decided to move on, (my parents) started preparing for retirement. The business was for sale, but not like publicly for sale. ‘œIf they found somebody to buy it, great. If they didn’t, this was going to be the result, closing the doors.’� Bill Dobbins’ death hastened the process. ‘œI had an eight-hour drive from here to Morton,’� Nate Dobbins said about the aftermath, ‘œand the whole time I’m thinking, ‘˜Holy crap, what am I going to do with Peoria Camera Shop?’ I didn’t foresee it happening for another five years.’� Lessons learned:Peoria native closes eatery because of health issues, lack of help Customers came from all over central Illinois