After almost nine decades, Photo Service in Old Montreal is closing its doors. In 1937, when the shop opened, memories were developed on light-sensitive paper in a dark room. For three generations, it’s been a family-run business catering to professional photographers and hobbyists. The founders’ grandson, Jean-Charles Savard, now president of the operation, says the time has come to close: “Less laboratory work because of the new technology.” He explains that the decision was triggered by slow sales. People taking pictures on their phones don’t buy cameras, tripods and specialized lenses, he says. The closure means employee Jean-Charles Hubert, who has been working here for 25 years, will need to change focus. “It’s a big chunk of my life. Definitely was my working life. Mixed emotions. We knew more or less in the last four years that things were not going well. We tried to adapt as much as we could,” he says. While the storefront is closing, two aspects of the business will continue into 2026. These include specialized printing and what Savard calls his “archival operation,” preserving people’s old photos. “People have pictures filed everywhere in their old computers that they can’t access anymore because they don’t have the tools,” he explains. The archival business will continue in partnership with Kant Photo on Stanley Street, another family run business. Savard says the light has been fading on Photo Service for the last four years, and instead of a sad ending, he wants to view the change as a new beginning. “I think we really need to be positive, find something positive. So for me, it’s kind of a reset or a new avenue,” he says. Photo Service’s last day on Notre-Dame Street West is Jan. 3 and until then, everything is on sale.
