Since not many folks actually have photos developed these days, my mom doesn’t get to see much in the way of current pictures of our loved ones. Through the magic of Facebook, combined with my smart phone, I can share all kinds of photos with Mom.
Besides family and friend information, I also enjoy reminiscing postings from our neighborhood residents. Lately I have noticed many comments on businesses and buildings that are no longer with us. Some of the ones I have seen mentioned are: Circle and Los Altos drive-in movie theatres and the walk-in Towne, Crest and Rivoli movie theatres. Some folks also mentioned the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium (I saw Elvis there when I was a young teen, and in later years I sat in the front row watching the hysterical antics of Cheech and Chong— yes, the air was thick with pot smoke). Other places mentioned have been Alfred’s, Welch’s and Ren Lee restaurants. I remember them all.
While recollecting those places of years gone by, I have also been thinking of local establishments in Bixby Knolls that have shuttered their doors: Café Bixby, Coffee Tavern, It’s A Grind, Roberts, Star Jewelers, Bixby Knolls Party Shop, Sweet Treasures, ABC Store and Victor’s Fine China. More recently we have lost Arnold’s Family Restaurant and Nino’s Ristorante Italiano.
With the loss of these restaurants, merchants and other places of business, I am sad to report the bad news that Tuttle Cameras will also be leaving Bixby Knolls. The good news is that they will be moving their place of business to a new location just a few miles west of where they are now.
We will miss owner Eric Vitwar and his talented staff at Tuttle Cameras but are so happy that they have found a new home just a few miles from their current location. The following is the formal announcement that we received from Eric a couple of weeks ago:
After 70 years on Atlantic Ave., Tuttle Cameras is moving to a new location in Long Beach. Tuttle Cameras has been in Long Beach for 71 years, and for the past 70 years, has been located at 4019 Atlantic Ave. in Bixby Knolls. This move was unplanned, but necessary, as our new landlord doubled the rent. We are excited about our new location at 5467 E. Carson St. in Long Beach. Our new location is in the Parkview Village Shops, which is only 3 1/2 miles east of our current location. We are planning to be in our new location starting June 1, 2017.
If you get the chance, do stop by their Bixby Knolls store before they leave the area. The current location is 4019 Atlantic Ave., just south of Carson Street. According to Eric, they will have amazing discounts on frames, albums, cameras and accessories. We wish the Tuttle Cameras family all the best and are excited for them as they start this new adventure.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”https://signal-tribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-18-at-4.44.00-PM.png” credit=”File photo” align=”center” lightbox=”on” caption=”Eric Vitwar, owner of Tuttle Cameras, stands in front of his business, which has been located in Bixby Knolls on Atlantic Avenue for 70 years. Tuttle will now do business at 5467 E. Carson St. June 1.” captionposition=”center” revealfx=”off”]
