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When I moved to Philadelphia in fall 2000, Photolounge was only three years old. In fact, it wasn’t even Photolounge yet — it was CBOP, Camera Brokers of Philadelphia. Ravid Butz and his small team got their start on 15th Street selling used film cameras to students, many from the nearby Art Institute (RIP). By the time I started working in the Architects Building at 17th & Sansom in summer 2001, they’d added film processing and printing services.
In June 2021, they opened the doors of their new location at 130 South 17th Street. Designed by Frank Furness, it was built in 1887, the southernmost of five contiguous speculative homes for developer Joseph Solomon. Solomon liked the building so much he made it is home. When I worked at 17th & Sansom, Torreo Coffee was on the basement level, my go-to coffee shop. It’s now Luke’s Lobster. Directly above that has been Gomo’s Nail Salon that whole time. And the three floors above that? That’s now Photolounge.
The gorgeous gallery space features a bonus view to the First Baptist Church across the street
I’m proud to partner with Photolounge again, and on this project in particular. The subject matter of the photos is what Philadelphia is getting wrong. But the space where they came off the printer is a classic example of what we could, and should, be doing. 130 South 17th Street was added to both the National Register and Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1978.