[plapetomain]

> They also have a lab that do b&w prints from digital files on photo paper interestingly.

Not new or uncommon. The “last generation” of photo finishing (think drug store 1 hour photo mats) since the early 2000s mostly used digital printers. They called them laser printers no less (not a xerographic process, but direct exposure)

The developed film was scanned and this of course allowed them to give you a CD cheaply. Also of course allowed printing digital media easily.

[anfractuosity]

Yeah, I've had colour prints before, but not really seen anyone do true b&w prints.

[klodolph]

It wasn’t super uncommon in the past, because you could just use the same equipment with different chemistry. When I say “not super uncommon” what I mean is that you might have a couple different shops with a B&W (non-chromogenic) option in the same city.