Cooter’s Is Closing Saturday

Just got off the phone and the staff confirmed that one of Highland Park Village’s oldest tenants, Cooter’s Village Camera, will be closing its doors Saturday.

By Jeanne Prejean Aug. 10, 2011 | 2:01 pm | 18 Comments | Comments RSS
18 comments to "Cooter's Is Closing Saturday"
  1. Southern Gent @ August 10, 2011 at 2:14 pm
    Good, hopefully they can put in a (enter foreign woman’s name here) Boutique. We need a few more.

    Sorry to see Cooter’s go, but admittedly I haven’t bought anything from them in years. But I’m sure some people still use their nighttime film drop for their Kodacolor disk film cameras.

  2. Mainzer @ August 10, 2011 at 3:35 pm
    That is VERY disappointing to hear!

  3. momof4 @ August 10, 2011 at 4:04 pm
    So sorry to see it go. Very nice people and very informative.

  4. joeat @ August 10, 2011 at 4:10 pm
    I am shocked. I remember their formal opening at their first location where Lombardi’s new restaurant is under construction. The boy’s late father, Al, was a fine man.

  5. BettyG @ August 10, 2011 at 4:40 pm
    Sad!!! Bought so many cards from them as a teenager and every roll of film for slides or photos was purchased/developed there. They will be missed!!! The Village must need another monument to greed and excess.

  6. Pat Sreenan @ August 10, 2011 at 4:54 pm
    Good luck guys. Best camera store ever!!

  7. Dan Koller @ August 10, 2011 at 6:35 pm
    Highland Park Village just issued the following statement:

    “Cooter’s Village Camera informed Highland Park Village management last week that they would be closing their doors on Saturday, August 13th. The locally owned and operated retailer opened in Highland Park Village in 1941 and was the center’s second longest standing merchant.

    “ ‘We are saddened at the news of Cooter’s closing their doors and wish the Cooter family all the best in their future endeavors,’ says Stephen Summers, managing director and director of leasing of HP Village Partners, LP.

    “In a recent letter to Highland Park Village management, Kirk Cooter explained several reasons behind the family’s decision to close.”

    Yes, that’s how the statement ends. I guess we’ll have to call Kirk for a list of those reasons.

  8. Carolyne @ August 11, 2011 at 9:40 am
    The rent was too high for them and HPV wants to spit up the space to get more tenants in at the $125+ sq ft rate.

  9. Alfonso C @ August 11, 2011 at 11:05 am
    bought my first camera there in 1966…A Rollieflex…sorry to see this chapter end…

  10. Sammy @ August 11, 2011 at 11:58 am
    Sorry to show my ignorance, but the statement says they are the second oldest tenant. Who’s the oldest?

  11. dennis beecherl @ August 11, 2011 at 6:07 pm
    DB iam sorry to see it close i bought my first nickon slr em model back in 1980 it was a great cammera and the people were very helpful the best cammera store ever.

  12. joeat @ August 12, 2011 at 8:34 am
    @Sammy, good question and I am not positive, but I bet it is Village Barbers. When I was growing up they were next door to where Mi Cocina kitchen is today.

  13. Lv @ August 20, 2011 at 11:18 pm
    I’m anticipated to know what big names HPV will lease the space to. Prada? Celine? Lanvin?

  14. Highland Park Village Transforming - City-Data Forum @ August 21, 2011 at 12:12 pm
    [...] Highland Park Village Transforming With Cooter's Village Camera now closed in Highland Park Village which has been there for many many years. The center has recently taken a turn in its image and targeted rare designer boutiques. With that in mind I wonder what the folks at the shopping center have in mind for that space? Cooter’s Is Closing Saturday | Park Cities People [...]

  15. James A. @ November 18, 2011 at 7:32 pm
    Closing of Cooter’s Camera Village is an immeasurable loss for Americana.

  16. B. J. Brow @ February 5, 2012 at 12:47 pm
    Kirk, today I first heard of your closing. Will you reopen at a new location?
    I have not seen you all for some time. Reason: Bad health over the past two years. I had to stop my photo interest so very few images anymore.
    Kirk please either email me or call me at 469-563-8814.
    Some of the best times of my life included visits with your dad & all of you.

    B. J. Brown

  17. John Kendrick @ March 3, 2012 at 12:24 pm
    I worked for Mr. Cooter when he opwned the Valet parking lot under Sanger Bros. store. I was a valet parking attendant which served customers coming to Sammy’s Restaurant. He then purchased Cooter’s Camera in the building which housed Hunt Grocery. I worked for Hunt, too. So sad to see the Cooter family leave the Village – fond memories.

  18. Richard West @ March 29, 2012 at 1:42 pm
    I just learned belatedly that Cooter’s Village Camera had closed. This is a great loss to Dallas, Highland Park Village, and all those in Dallas who take photography seriously. Walt Erikson from Cooter’s came to my house in 1961 and helped me set up my darkroom while I was a photographer for the Thomas Jefferson High School paper. I then was lucky enought to work at Cooter’s the summer of 1965 while I was in college. Al Cooter was a great boss. He stressed customer service above all else and wanted us to spend as much time as needed to solve a customer’s problem or explain a certain piece of equipment whether or not we made a sale. One time I inadvertently left the back door to the alley open and someone stole a slide projector from the storeroom in back. Mr. Cooter justifiably docked my pay ($225 per month) until the cost of the projector was paid for but then presented me with a check for the full amount. I will always remember Al, Walt, and Amy (my fellow student co-worker) fondly and wish the Cooter family nothing but the best.

Leave a Reply