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 There were few black owned businesses in West County in 1970, and the thought of a black man operating a photography supply store in Clayton seemed absurd.
But Oscar Johnson opened the store on North Meramec in Clayton 30 years ago, and OJ Photo Supply is still going strong at 8338 Olive Boulevard in University City.
When he opened, Johnson's business was a 10 x 30 corner in an ArtMart Store. His business is now ten times its original size, he said, "but our core philosophy remains the same, which is offering the customer a good deal and friendly service."
Johnson developed his love for photography at 15. The third of nine children, he spent quality time at Carver house, a downtown community center. The director arranged a job for him at a nearby camera shop and he was on a lifelong career track.
"Every day, from 4 to 6 p.m., and all day on Saturdays, I learned about photography," Johnson said. "I gave up basketball and track after school so I could work."
Johnson graduated from Hadley Technical School, and began working at the camera store full time. "I absorbed all I could about the business," he said.
In 1961, he married his wife, Charley, and they had two sons, Brian and Darrin. "In 1969, I began to work on a plan to open my own store," he said. His first application for small business loan was denied. He began writing a new business plan while working as a cartographer for the federal government, doing freelance photography and teaching photography at a YMCA.
For his second loan application, he took a different approach. This time, the store would be located within an existing business. The small business loan was approved, and in 1970, OJ Photo Supply became a reality.
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 For two years he toiled in the cramped quarters of ArtMart. The business grew and so did his family. He and his wife had another son, Jason, who would become a football standout at Parkway North High School.
In 1972, OJ Photo Supply moved to a storefront down the street on Meramec. In 1975, The St. Louis Small Business Association voted Johnson "Small Businessman of the Year". He has been a board member of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Commerce and Growth Association, Urban League and Monsanto YMCA. In 1991, he was inducted into the Small Business Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, the business landscape was changing in Clayton. "Large anchor stores moved out, and smaller stores struggled to survive," Johnson said.
In 1996, OJ Photo Supply relocated to 8338 Olive Boulevard. "It's a great location," he said. "The consumers in University City support their local merchants."
In appreciation, Johnson offers his "Snappy Hour" on the third Saturday of each month. "Snappy Hour" is an informal in-store social hour where customers and guests can speak on a variety of photo topics.
"Sometimes we have a representative from a major camera manufacturer, or provide demonstrations of the latest photography innovations," he said.
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