Long-operating businesses close in Springfield

After 50 years in Springfield, Lawrence Photo and Video is one of a few longstanding companies to announce in April it would shutter operations as owners decided to close instead of sell their businesses.

Appliance-repair shop Star Appliance, 1774 S. Grant Ave., bowling center Holiday Lanes, 1111 W. Kearney St., and gift store Countryside Cottage Inc., 1316 E. Republic Road, have either closed or confirmed plans to close this month. Combined, the companies represent at least 160 years in business.

Fred Terry, Lawrence Photo owner since 2008 and an employee since 2000, said April 25 was the planned last day in business for the photo equipment and accessories retailer at 2550 S. Campbell Ave.

“I’m 70 years old. I have severe emphysema. My life expectancy is another three to four years, so I don’t want to work all that time,” Terry said. “I’m dusting off the rocking chair.”

Terry said he never listed the business for sale because an inventory sellout is more lucrative.

“I talked to a couple of other camera-store dealers. They wanted to come in and buy the equipment for pennies on the dollar,” Terry said. “I’ve already made more than double what they’ve suggested offering me.”

The company started in Springfield in the mid-1960s as a graphic-arts business with plates, presses and inks, Terry said, before Lawrence began selling cameras in 1973. In all, the Lawrence brand name has been around for 125 years.

“I’ve been selling these things since 1966, so I’ve kind of paid my dues,” said Terry, a former factory representative for Bell & Howell Co. “The industry has shifted. “With the advent of smartphones, sales on point-and-shoot cameras dwindled. It didn’t go completely away, but it is certainly not what it was four or five years ago.”

At Lawrence, Terry said sales of cameras and equipment have fallen by roughly 30 percent since 2008.

According to the Camera & Imaging Products Association, between 2009 and 2013, camera sales dropped 40 percent to 61 million units. More recently, camera shipments in February were at 2.43 million, down 17 percent from 2.93 million in the same month last year.

“We went more toward lab services. We put in new lab equipment,” Terry said, adding he invested roughly $80,000 two years ago on equipment that allowed the company to print pictures on metal, tile, glass and other surfaces.

“So we made bracelets, charms, ornaments for Christmas trees, folded greeting cards – that, we never used to do before.”

He declined to disclose revenue, but said the company, which employed 11 in its final week, was profitable until the end.

This month, the owners of Holiday Lanes said they were closing the 50-year-old north-side bowling alley by June. Manager Gary Clouse, 68, who co-owns the business with Steve Wiemer – who owns Enterprise Park Lanes and Sunshine Lanes – said he is retiring, and Wiemer did not want to invest to upgrade the facility.

Wiemer, who owns the 16-lane, 25,000-square-foot bowling alley, as well as adjoining buildings, intends to sell the property for an undisclosed amount, Clouse said. According to Greene County assessor data, the 1.8-acre property has an appraised value of $976,100.

Commercial real estate agent and property owner Mike Fusek of Sperry Van Ness/Rankin Co. said strip-center tenant Star Appliance shut down after co-owner Dennis Williamson had a stroke. The longtime appliance-repair company operated for about 30 years in the center near Grant Avenue and Sunshine Street, Fusek said. Dennis and Cindy Williamson owned Star Appliance.

Fusek is listing the roughly 5,000-square-foot strip center for $515,000, though he said a lease of the 1,100-square-foot Star Appliance space goes for $12 per square foot gross.

Countryside Cottage was established as a gift shop in 1983 in Galloway Village before it moved to its current store on Republic Road in 1999.

Owner Ann McCoy was out of town and unavailable for comment, but an employee confirmed the company’s plans to close in the coming weeks.[[In-content Ad]]