Chula Vista’s Third Avenue corridor has a new addition worth a look for camera enthusiasts: I’m Still Developing, the film photography lab and camera shop that built a devoted following in National City, has relocated to a bigger storefront in the heart of the city.
Co-founders Andrew Galvan and Jenessa Marquez started the business out of a shared love for analog cameras that took off during the pandemic, when photo meetups and film-camera collecting became a way to connect with other hobbyists. What began as a side project turned into a full-fledged lab offering film developing, scanning, camera sales, and hands-on workshops. The shop’s original Highland Avenue space in National City, opened in the summer of 2024, quickly became a gathering spot for San Diego’s film photography community — so much so that San Diego Magazine readers named it the county’s best camera store in this year’s reader awards.
That popularity came with a problem: not enough room. As orders grew, the team added new processing equipment and brought on four more employees, but the original storefront couldn’t keep up. Galvan described the old space as “just a little sliver” compared to what the business needed to keep hosting galleries and community nights.
The move, completed in late August, solves that. The new Third Avenue location gives I’m Still Developing a proper gallery space with a garage door that opens up to let in natural light — a setup built for the exhibitions and community events that had outgrown the old shop. A Filipino-inspired coffee pop-up, Kaphé Muna, now also runs out of the space on weekdays, giving visitors a reason to linger over a cup of coffee while waiting on a roll of film.
The timing lines up with a broader resurgence in analog photography that other San Diego County labs are also reporting, as younger photographers rediscover the look and process of shooting on film. For Chula Vista, it’s a small but meaningful win: a growing, homegrown business with a loyal following choosing to put down roots downtown rather than expand elsewhere.
For business owners watching Third Avenue’s evolution, it’s another sign that South Bay’s independent retail scene has real momentum heading into fall.
Source: KPBS Public Media
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