Last Snap Near for Dearborn’s Arella Studio
Arella Studio in Dearborn is moving to Canton and selling its building to a local dentist.
Say goodbye to another longtime Dearborn business.
Arella Studio, which has been family owned and operated since 1936, is selling its building in Dearborn and moving to Canton.
The family has decided to sell its building at 22801 Newman to a dentist.
“The building has become too big for us,” said Mike Arella, the third generation of Arellas to work at the studio. His father Angelo still works in the studio.
The last day for the business in Dearborn could come as early as Aug. 10, Arella said.
The Arella Family has been snapping family portraits and graduation pictures for 75 years. The bulk of the family business has historically been prom and graduation photos, including the senior pics of this writer back in the late 1980s. But Arella says the market today in Dearborn for these types of pictures just doesn’t exist any longer.
“Kids don’t appear to be taking high school photos any longer, ” Arella said. “There isn’t a market left here. ”
Arella said the family is searching for a smaller location in Canton to lease. We wish the family the best of luck on this next chapter of their business.
August 4th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Last one out of Dearborn, turn out the lights! Dearborn Jewlers is located in Plymouth, etc. – – now this – – and we get 2 new Hooka Bars next to 2 empty Giant Parking Structures and an empty field o’ grass!! Get out, yella! Fatburger really isn’t coming soon, as promised. See you at the Beerfest toay!! (:>-)
August 5th, 2012 at 7:23 am
Sad to hear that the Arella family is leaving Dearborn. They did my senior pics in the 70s & I got to know Angelo while working at Dearborn Bank & Trust (studio was still in east Dbn at the time). Later my parents moved across the street from the Arella family & lived there for many years. Great people – best of luck to all of you.
August 5th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Dearborn has consistently cultivated a negative business climate. Price’s, Hallmark, Dearborn Jewelers, Jacobson’s, Crowley’s, Murihead’s, Adray’s. Add to that a completely failed downtown development. Still the city’s leadership continues to bury their head’s in the sand. The way they treat businesses, you would think people were breaking down the doors to open a business in Dearborn. Wake up! It’s not that it can’t be done, it’s simply that the Mayor, Counsel & other city leaders are patheticly out of touch. After 40 years in Dearborn I finally gave up. Moved my family out and have never been happier.
August 7th, 2012 at 6:27 am
I spoke with Angelo Arella yesterday. They discovered a stash of Dearborn school yearbooks (Dearborn High, Edsel, Lowrey, Fordson) going back to the 1950’s. They are selling the books for $5.00 each. If interested, please contact Kay Arella at 313-274-0732.
August 7th, 2012 at 9:07 am
…and yet you can’t seem to stop following this Dearborn blog, despite being the happiest you’ve ever been in your life.
What is has happening to Arella’s business is what is happening to many in that business–it is being transformed by technology and by culture. Adenior picture ain’t what it used to be.
You’d be more credible if you knew when to blame city leadership.
August 7th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Um…Jacobson’s and Crowley’s went bankrupt. Adray’s went downhill because Mike died and his wife and daughter weren’t cut out for business. Murihead’s is because Alberta wanted to retire and there was no one to carry on. Dearborn’s business record is bad enough without overblowing it. Makes it hard to take you guys seriously.
August 8th, 2012 at 11:51 am
Typical Angelo, allways trying to make a buck.
August 8th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Dearbornites will blame everyone but themselves. Same story different day. Instead of going to a Dearborn establishment you chose to go to a photo place outside the city. When you do shop in Dearborn you go to some corporate place instead of a locally owned one i.e kroger, starbucks, jimmy johns. Then b*tch n moan when they’re gone. Its almost funny, but in reality just sad…. Can’t wait for people to jump in and protest how much they shop in Dearborn only. lol obviously I’m only talking about the other 95% of this city of which almost none check this website.
August 9th, 2012 at 9:49 am
You may see it as making a buck Eduardo but I know a few people who were very happy to hear this – there are a lot of people who have lost or misplaced their year books and this just the thing for them. $5.00 is a bargin.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Why would I pay to park to go to the Dearborn Starbucks and Jimmy John’s when I can go to Allen Park for free. I drive through the free lot and if there is no free parking, I drive straight to Allen Park. I used to support Dearborn businesses, but just can’t afford to any more. They ticket me in front of my own house, shake me down for change to stop for a cup of coffee. Plus there isn’t anything that great to pay to park to go to. Why pay if the exact same thing is a mile away with free parking? I think that little plaza with the free parking will be thriving once Goodwill and Dearborn Music move in over there. Watch the business at Biggby, Iverson’s and the the other places pick up. They charged me 50 cents to go into Panera and get a Bagel that cost about the same. No more free first half hour so next time I want a Bagel I will go to Allen Park. People can say that it isn’t paid parking, but it is. As far as Arella goes, parking was free, but their prices were higher than a lot of other places and new technology makes it easy for people to do photography from their home at much cheaper prices. You know these days it’s all about the all mighty dollar and nobody is loyal to anything anymore if they can save a buck. I’m not saying that’s right, but that seems to be the way it is these days.
August 9th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
westborn is a chain of 3. do you consider that corporate or local? I’m not being sarcastic, I’m curious
August 9th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Hate to break it to you but it’s simple: Dearborn doesn’t have squat when it comes to shopping. Hey, I want to go pick up a new shirt. Where do I have to go to do that? Marshalls? Fairlane? To be honest, I don’t like either locations. So guess what my next choice is. That’s right, Allen Park.
If I feel like getting a drink or eating high priced food while dropping a couple dollars on top of that just to park, Dearborn is DEFINITELY the place!
Hate to say it but Dearborn’s officials and the landowners are digging Dearborn’s grave…
August 10th, 2012 at 8:23 am
Hmnn…there are some interesting comments here. I am sorry to see a long time Dearborn business go. My nephew graduated this past June and senor portraits–the standard cap and gown–were done at this school. As far as I know, the majority of his friends didn’t venture to have pics taken at a studio. I think with the prevalence of facebook and social networking these kids feel connected. When I was in high school, though, there seemed to be a certain finality to it as a decisive chapter and I had the feeling that I may not see many of these people soon after graduating. Of course, the economy in MI. hasn’t been great either. My grandmother passsed away a few weeks ago…the cemetary director indicated how badly they needed the business.
Like TomintheD said, too, I think technology has affected this industry. I’m not saying that photography doesn’t take skills, experience, and talent. But I do think improvements in technology have expedited how soon and effectively one can gain a decent skill set. I’ve met several people, a decade and less removed from high school with photography businesses who don’t have brick and motor businesses. They make investments in their online presence.
August 11th, 2012 at 10:02 am
Angelo I’m sure Eduardo was only joking (but everyone knows you stil have your communion money), however it is sad to see a hometown business go away, but if an Adrays can go away we sure will survive without Arella’s. As for Donna Hays comments, when did she last visit your business? Stop living in yesteryear with your old yearbooks that may have been misplaced, and simply move on with your life.
August 17th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Just spent the evening in Plymouth. The place was packed with people. There was a concert downtown and lots of free parking. People were waiting in line to get in the restaurants, walking in and out of the shops AND BUYING. I hope Dearborn is enjoying all the quarters. I went to the farmer’s market here today also and it was not very busy for such a nice day. I put my money in the meter and walked around then I couldn’t even stop for lunch because I ran out of change. Next time I will have to go to the farmer’s market in Allen Park, Wyandotte, Plymouth or Wayne so I can park for free and walk around at my leisure.