Struggling Koreatown Photo Shop Becomes Instant Hit After Visit From Kacey Musgraves

September 4, 2019

Fans of Kacey Musgraves have been flocking to a small photo shop run by a Vietnamese immigrant in Koreatown in Los Angeles.

Tom’s One Hour Photo, which was already in danger of closing, suddenly had an influx of customers after the country singer promoted it on her social media.

“Ten years ago, it was a little slow, and now Kacey came in and made me busy again,” owner Tom Tuong was quoted by ABC7 as saying.

While on a tour in LA last week, Musgraves chanced upon Tom’s One Hour Photo and immediately fell in love with the shop’s “retro” feel and ambiance.

Musgraves was with her sister, Kelly Christine Sutton, who took some behind-the-scenes photos. Sutton found Tom’s One-Hour Photo on Yelp while looking where to get some photos developed before leaving town. The sisters reportedly enjoyed their visit to the shop, taking some fun pictures and getting to know the owner a bit.

“I felt like I was in a time capsule. … There’s something so nostalgic about the portraits he’s made,” Sutton told LA Times.

According to Musgraves, she loves places that are somehow left untouched by modern marketing technology, “seemingly unaware that they’re actually a gold mine for the retro revolution currently happening in my generation but not knowing how to or being able to adapt.”

On Wednesday, she created an Instagram account for the shop and gave it a much needed social media presence.

“Let’s keep this charming business afloat!” Musgraves wrote.

Her fans responded accordingly and have since been visiting the shop. Other people who want a nostalgic look have also been flocking to Tom’s.

The shop not only gained thousands of Instagram followers but also a lot of new customers.

“Seeing the reaction has been amazing. I think my favorite part is seeing all the love that my dad’s gotten,” Tuong’s daughter Tisha shared.

Musgraves’ own parents have also run a mom-and-pop print shop in Texas for about 30 years.

“We were raised in a small town, small-business household where ends sometimes were barely met. I think that’s why I have a soft spot for the dreamer … the underdog,” Musgraves said. “I worked [in my parents’ shop] during my high school years answering phones, making copies, and rolling my eyes. I remember his own frustration and worry when Walmart came to town and home printers became a trend. Because who needs to order business cards or invitations anymore when you can just print your own?”

Featured Image via Instagram / tomsonehourphotolab

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