Best of 2003: Best Photo Fixer-Uppers

Village Studio
8215 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa
619-466-6708

Owned by David and Sherry Gillespie, Village Studio repairs and restores antique photographs. The shop first opened in 1947 and has kept up with technology through the years. Digital retouching of damaged or discolored photos makes it possible to eliminate the original photo's tears, cracks, and fading -- yielding like-new photographic prints without any additional wear and tear to the fragile originals. Minor restoration runs $30 to $60 plus the cost of new prints (the first 8x10 is $25; subsequent prints are $18 each). Moderate repairs begin at $125 and very heavy restoration runs $185 to $225. Images can be scanned onto a CD at a cost of $35 for the first image and $10 for each additional.