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Milford Camera Shuttered
Unable to find buyer, owner simply shuts doors after 50 years
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Business New Haven
1/20/2003
By: BNH
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MILFORD - Milford Camera Shop ended a half-century run as a downtown fixture, abruptly shuttering its doors in an unexpected closing that came after the longtime owner was unable to find a buyer.
A banner outside the 9 River Street shop said the store's doors were closed for good. An answering machine message greeting callers January 13 said: “You have reached the Milford Camera Shop. We are now closed. We want to thank the loyal customers who have supported us for over 50 years.”
Additional queries were directed to New Haven attorney Peter Ressler. Ressler said in published reports that owner Marge Koorejian couldn't stand the emotional strain of a protracted goodbye and decided to retire quickly and quietly.
Koorejian, who is 74, and her family own the building, which has an assessed value of $187,500.
Customers with film left for processing were called on Saturday, January 11 advising them to pick up their photos by Sunday evening, when the doors of the business would close for good.
Andrew Koorejian Sr. founded the store shortly after World War II, after making his name as a photographer with a portrait of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower that was published in Life magazine, reported the Connecticut Post.
Andrew Koorejian died in 1989, and James Wilson, then a Milford Camera Shop employee, tried to buy the business from Marge Koorejian.
When negotiations bore no fruit, Wilson decided to open his own camera store, Milford Photo, in 1996. In 1999 Wilson moved Milford Photo directly across the street from his former employer to compete head-to-head.
In that competition, Wilson came out the ultimate winner.
“I'm happy with how things ended up,” Wilson told the Post. “I'll be here for the next 50 years.”
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