The End Of An Era: Schmitt Photo Will Close After 97 Years In Business
By: Kayla Moody
Updated: January 8, 2013
A long-standing Evansville business will soon shut down and it's largely attributing its closure to the growing digital age. Schmitt Photo has helped people print their most treasured memories for nearly a century.
Late last week the shop told its customers it would close at the end of February. Steve Polley, owner and president, says the shop now sees half the customers it did five years ago ago. Polley believes the digital age has changed peoples habits when it comes to photographs. Many people now use online photo albums rather than printing hard copies -- a practice he finds very concerning.
"I worry that his digital age is gonna create gaps in family history, the printed photographic history of a family, that will never be replaced," says Polley. "I mean there will be future generations that will never know what their grandparents looked like and, to me, that's sad."
Schmitt Photo is a family owned business that has seen five generations of workers during its 97 years in business.
Late last week the shop told its customers it would close at the end of February. Steve Polley, owner and president, says the shop now sees half the customers it did five years ago ago. Polley believes the digital age has changed peoples habits when it comes to photographs. Many people now use online photo albums rather than printing hard copies -- a practice he finds very concerning.
"I worry that his digital age is gonna create gaps in family history, the printed photographic history of a family, that will never be replaced," says Polley. "I mean there will be future generations that will never know what their grandparents looked like and, to me, that's sad."
Schmitt Photo is a family owned business that has seen five generations of workers during its 97 years in business.
