Don’s Photo reopens on Broadway

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This article was published 15/04/2024 (757 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Staff at Don’s Photo are saying “cheese” once more — after nearly four months and a massive renovation, the camera store has returned to its downtown Winnipeg location.

A burst pipe at 379 Broadway forced the retailer to move all its operations into its Main Street shop. Don’s Photo said it laid off a small number of staff and lost about 25 per cent of its yearly sales during the first months of 2024.

“It’s great to be back,” said Chris Brogden, store manager of the downtown location. “It’s extremely difficult to be closed for months at a time.”

The 45-year-old business reopened April 12 on Broadway. The shop looks similar to its December 2023 version — pre-pipe burst — despite undergoing extensive work to its walls and ceiling, Brogden said.

Repairs are still ongoing within the building, Don’s Photo president Mike Godfrey noted. He didn’t know the final damage cost for the company but estimated a price tag between $100,000 and $150,000, not including lost business or employee costs.

“A lot” of product was damaged, Brogden added. Cameras and accessories were among the items hit.

The shop is back to regular hours — 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday — and will likely hire one or two employees for the location, adding to its four full-time downtown staff. The company staffs approximately 30 people at 1839 Main St., Godfrey wrote in an email.

Don’s Photo left 410 Portage Ave., where it had resided for 21 years, for Broadway in 2023.

— Free Press staff