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Southern Photo Closes After 53 Years, Was Brevard’s Largest Full-Service Photography Store

By  //  September 2, 2016

Succumbs To Online Retailers, Big Box Stores

Lisa Fournier
Lisa Stirtzinger

ABOVE VIDEO: Lisa Stirtzinger of Southern Photo in Melbourne was selected the Florida Retail Federation’s 2012 Retailer of the Year. She purchased Southern Photo in October of 1990, and has grown the business into the largest full service camera store in Brevard County, Florida. Under her leadership, Southern Photo, which was founded in 1963, was well-known for its customer service and is notable for navigating through the photo retailing industry’s transition from film to digital. Before closing on September 1, Southern Photo successfully competing for several years with online retailers by differentiating itself with strong service and a focus on creating value at the local level.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Southern Photo, which celebrated their golden anniversary in 2013, announced that the landmark store had closed, effective September 1.

Southern Photo, which was located at located on 125 E. NASA Boulevard in Melbourne, was the largest full-service photography store in Brevard County, well-known for its exemplary customer service, and notable for thriving through the photo retailing industry’s difficult transition from film to digital.

“It is with deep sadness that we have had to close our store effective end of day September 1, 2016,” said owner Lisa Stirtzinger in a letter on the company’s website.

“This business has served Melbourne since 1963. And it has been an honor for the last 26 years to navigate the business through hurricanes, flood waters, technology change, and more so that we could provide our customers the joy that photography brings to each of us.

Southern Photo was the largest full-service photography store in Brevard County, well-known for its exemplary customer service, and notable for thriving through the photo retailing industry’s difficult transition from film to digital.

Stirtzinger went on to say, “Quite simply, while we await answers from the Florida DOT, we find that our best efforts to operate our business are not enough to navigate through the environment in which we find ourselves today.

Southern Photo is the largest full-service photography store in Brevard County, well-known for its exemplary customer service, and notable for thriving through the photo retailing industry’s difficult transition from film to digital. (Southern Photo image)
CIRCA 1980s: Southern Photo was the largest full-service photography store in Brevard County, well-known for its exemplary customer service, and notable for thriving through the photo retailing industry’s difficult transition from film to digital. (Southern Photo image)

We will begin contacting each customer to make appointments to return deposits, refund payments for classes not yet held, refund gift cards, return personal property entrusted to us, and more.

You may also leave a message at 321-254-4224 to make an appointment if you believe you have property or deposits held with us. We want to return your rightful property to you as quickly as possible.

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We also want to express appreciation to each of the talented individuals who believed in the mission of our company to bring joy to our customers through photography.

It has been an honor to serve with you. We fought hard right up to the end to find a way to stay viable and relevant to our community.

Melbourne, we will miss the opportunity to serve you.”

Southern Photo is successfully competing with online retailers by differentiating itself by offering strong service and a focus on creating value at the local level, where it matters the most. With a vast selection of cameras and camera accessories, a staff full of experienced professional photographers, and an eye for new and exciting ways to preserve and present your memories, Southern Photo has shown that it has what it takes to stand the test of time and technology. (Southern Photo image)
Southern Photo, which celebrated their golden anniversary in 2013, announced that the landmark store had closed, effective September 1.

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ABOVE MAP: Southern Photo, which was located at located on 125 E. NASA Boulevard in Melbourne, was the largest full-service photography store in Brevard County, well-known for its exemplary customer service, and notable for thriving through the photo retailing industry’s difficult transition from film to digital. 

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