Gene's Camera Store welcomes new owners

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Gene's Camera Store in South Bend is welcoming new owners this afternoon, after holding a ribbon cutting to usher in the new era.

After 44 years serving the community, owners Jack and Barb St. Pierre have decided to retire.

They bought the store back in 1981, from its namesake Eugene Mutzel, who founded the business back in 1939.

Now, the South Bend stable will be in the hands of new owners, Jon Gilchrist and Melaney Miller.

"It's a delight. I mean, we had thought if, if we couldn't find a buyer, we thought of closing it down, selling the real estate, selling the inventory, but we didn't want to do that. We have a wonderful history since 1939 here on Lincoln Way West, and we didn't want to see that go away," stated Former Owner and President of Gene's Camera Store Jack St. Pierre.

The new ownership say they want to make sure customers can shop at Gene's Camera for generations to come, and develop relationships over their shared loved of photography.