Polaroid Plans Retail Fotobars

Polaroid has announced plans for a series of experiential retail stores that will allow consumers to transform their smartphone pictures into art.

The Polaroid Fotobar stores are designed to be recreational, destination shops, with 10 locations opening across the U.S. this year.

“Polaroid has always been about much more than just taking pictures. Polaroid is about sharing life’s most precious and memorable moments,” says Scott W. Hardy, president and chief executive officer, Polaroid. “Polaroid Fotobar retail stores represent a perfect modern expression of the values for which we have stood for 75 years. We are very excited about the opening of these stores, and the opportunities they will create for millions of consumers to have classic Polaroid experiences.”

Polaroid Fotobar stores will allow customers to transmit pictures from their phones or social media platforms to bar-top workstations where they can be enhanced, printed, matted and framed. Images can also be printed directly onto materials such as canvas, metal, acrylic, wood and bamboo.

“There are currently around 1.5 billion pictures taken every single day, and that number continues to grow in tandem with the popularity and quality of camera phones,” says Warren Struhl, founder and chief executive officer, Fotobar. “Unfortunately, even the very best of those pictures rarely ever escape the camera phone with which they were taken to be put on display around our homes and offices. Polaroid Fotobar stores are going to change all of that.”

The first store is slated to open in February in Delray Beach, Florida, with future locations including New York, Las Vegas and Boston. 

The Fotobar flagship in Delray Beach will also feature a multi-purpose room called The Studio that will host photo classes, private parties and a studio for portrait photos.