I recently learned that the only "real" photography store in Knoxville, TN is in danger of closing down after 106 years of operation. I worked there a couple of summers during the early 80s while I was in college and the people were great. Unfortunately when your market is limited and the competition is worldwide it has to be hard to survive.
Thompson Photo fighting for survival
Knoxville is a long time behind me but I will still mourn the loss if Thompson's closes.
I buy local whenever possible, adding S&H costs and delivery delays to the comparison with the normally higher local cost. Local usually wins out for me IF what i want is available. Therin lies the rub though. Even pro camera stores cannot carry "everything" so I grudgingly run off to B&H. Hope my local brick-n-mortar (Ace Photo) weathers the storm.