ABOUT US

ABOUT GENE'S CAMERA

In 1939, Picture Equipment Company was founded in South Bend, Indiana. The goal of the store was to provide photographic processing and printing, cameras, film, and accessories, all at the same location.

Later that same year, the business was purchased by Eugene Mutzel who renamed it Gene's Photo Shop. Gene owned and operated the store for over 40 years, providing high quality photographic services to South Bend and the surrounding area.

In 1981, Gene sold the business to Jack St. Pierre. The name changed to Gene's Camera Store, signaling a change in ownership, but paying tribute to the former owner and founder. Jack and his wife owned and operated Gene's Camera Store for over 43 years, even branching out to three additional locations in the region. In the years following the transition from film to digital photography, the other three were gradually closed, leaving the original location at 513 Lincoln Way W in South Bend intact.

In 2025, the St. Pierres handed the keys over to Jon Gilchrist and Melaney Miller, who continued the tradition of keeping the Gene's name, while making a small change of their own, by dropping the last word, and calling it simply "Gene's Camera".
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The Gene's Camera of today has become a destination store, attracting customers from the tri-state area, or anyone passing through. It is a blend of past and present cutting edge technology in the capture and printing of digital images, along with over 85 years of experience and a commitment to customer service, making us a wise choice for all of your photographic needs!