On September 2, 1980, two brothers took the reins of Bergen County Camera the day after Labor Day, a store first opened by its original owner in 1960. We started in a narrow, 1,000-square-foot store with a devotion and love for people and photography. We could not have envisioned how long we’d be here at 270 Westwood Avenue, or the remarkable journey we’ve taken with you along the way.
We’ve watched people meet lifelong friends in our classes. We’ve sold cameras to parents and then, years later, to their kids and grandkids. Entire families have been made here, and we can count more than a few with three generations who’ve shopped with us over the years. Whether you’ve been with us for decades or just found us, we’re glad to have you.
We found this vintage 1982 Canon AE-1 story while going through some early store advertising and it made us smile to think about everything that’s transpired since. Though we hadn’t come up with our more recent catch phrase “You don’t pay more, you just get more,” it was among the earliest representations of our core message from the beginnings.
Photography has undergone continuous and rapid change since 1980. It seems inconceivable that lightweight, single-piece video camcorders that families could afford and use had yet to be invented. Movie film and still pictures, with each roll needing to be developed before you could see your results! Our 1982 holiday catalog was full of Kodak Disc cameras and Carousel slide projectors, both just history now. The first digital SLR we sold in 1991, the 1.3 MP Kodak DCS 100, was really a Nikon F3 body wired to a shoulder-carried digital storage unit and hard drive, holding up to 156 uncompressed images. The combo weighed in at 15.4 lbs and cost $26,000 today plus lens!
What hasn’t changed is why the customers we call friends still walk through our door. People often ask us the secret to our longevity, and the answer sounds a bit contradictory: “by staying the same and changing.” While there are few products we sold in 1980 that you can still find at BCC today, the human touch, care, and service to our customers are identical. We’ve maintained who we are while keeping up with everything else, and a lot of that comes down to the people behind the counter, most of whom have been part of this store for years and know our customers by name. Others have gone on to do great things, and we’re proud to have been part of their story too.
What we’re most grateful for isn’t the years themselves, it’s what they’ve held. Families who’ve shopped with us for generations. The many friendships that started in the store and have brought us such joy through our lifetimes. Regulars who stop by just to say hello. Being part of this community for 46 years is something we’re endlessly grateful for.
We’d love to see it. Leave a comment below with a favorite Bergen County Camera memory, whether it’s a class, a purchase, a friendship, or anything else. We’ll be reading each one. We’re so looking forward to reminiscing with you!
