Filed under: Anne et Valentin, Caroline Abram, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Unique Frame Lines
Our Customers of the Week are a fun and fabulous couple…three cheers for Erin and Tom!!!
Erin and Tom used to live in Chicago, but moved to Wisconsin for graduate school…since Erin is working towards her PhD. She is one smart cookie. They still make the trek all the way down to Eye Spy Optical for our fantastic glasses. The both love fashion and think that glasses are the perfect accessory! They each left with 2 frames – a fun pair and a more serious pair for work.
Erin chose a bright red pair of Anne Et Valentin Amber frames for her fun pair. She had the hardest time deciding which color to get – she would have gotten them all if she could have – but the red was clearly the standout pair!
For her work pair, she also pair of Anne Et Valentin Cozak frames in a warm grey color wtih just a hint of pink at the temples. Did someone say, “sexy secretary”?!?
Tom’s prescription is strong, so he had difficulty see the glasses he was trying. As a result, our Specs Wrangler and Erin got to work and chose a couple of awesome frames for him. Once his lenses were in, he was thrilled with the end result!
He went home with a tortoise and blue Caroline Abram Joel frame that fits perfectly and complements his style perfectly.
And for work, he will be sporting a handsome pair of Anne Et Valentin Modern Time frames with an occupational lens. The occupational lenses allow Tom to see up to approximately ten feet, so he can read and see his computer monitor really well…..but when he needs to drive or see anything far away, he puts on his other pair:-)
We couldn’t love these two more and are sad that we won’t get to see them for another year.
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Filed under: Rapp, Shop Local. Shop Lincoln
In order to highlight our fellow independent small business owners on our stretch of Lincoln Ave., we asked our photographer, Dave Rentauskus, to take portraits of our comrades in our spectacular specs….along with a few shots of their shops.
Tom Daniels, owner of Sam & Willy’s
Tom is sporting a snazzy Dean frame by Canadian eyewear company, Rapp. They are known for their unique materials and cool shapes.
Tom is the owner extraordinaire of Sam & Willy’s which is, in our opinion, the best pet shop around. He is a long time animal lover, but when he and his lady added a dog who had some special nutritional needs to their family (they already had 2 cats), he realized that there weren’t any places where he could get what he needed for his pup. So he did what many business owners do, and started the very business he had been looking for, a neighborhood pet store where people could get nutritious food and pet supplies, and a little advice from knowledgable staff. He named the store after that dog, Sam, and his cat Willy.
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Fun Facts About Tom:
How long have you been in business? 12 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Farrah Fawcett
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Dolphin
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What color are your eyes? Grey
Where did you grow up? Cleveland, OH
What hood do you live in now? Lincoln Square
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Tom’s favorite part of owning Sam & Willy’s is helping people who come into his store looking for help with a particular issue that their pet is having, educating and connecting with his customers. He also loves being a part of the community, working with many of the local animal rescue groups. His is not a shop where you feel like an anonymous shopper, Tom wants to work with you to make sure your pet’s needs are being met.
Sam & Willy’s will be celebrating its 12 year anniversary this Spring, so stop in, say hi and pick a treat for the furry animal in your life!
Sam & Willy’s * 3405 N. Paulina St. Chicago Il 60657 * 773-404-0400
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Filed under: Shop Local. Shop Lincoln
In order to highlight our fellow independent small business owners on our stretch of Lincoln Ave., we asked our photographer, Dave Rentauskus, to take portraits of our comrades in our spectacular specs.
Heather Miller, Owner of Black Hearts Hair House
Heather is wearing Francis Klein Kristy in sparkly leopard print…need we say more?
Ever since she was a little girl, Heather Miller has been passionate about hair—from cutting her dolls’ hair, to styling all of her friend’s updos for prom, to dorm room hair color adventures; there has always been a constant: she has known that a hair salon—more specifically, her own salon– is where she belongs. After completing her certification at Pivot Point, she gained further education along with a blossoming clientele through the punk/alternative hair salons that Chicago has to offer. Her years of knowledge & experience paid off when the doors of Black Hearts Hair House in November 2008.
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Fun Facts About Heather:
How long have you been in business? 6 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Luke Perry from 90210
If you could be any animal, what would it be? A panther
Are you Right or Left handed?: Right handed
What color are your eyes? Brown
Where did you grow up? Naperville, IL
What hood do you live in? Albany Park
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Since 2008, she has morphed the space on Lincoln Avenue with the help of her talented staff of professionals into her dream of an alternative boutique salon that is able to accommodate a variety of clients–no matter what their budget is or if they want subtle blonde highlights or a bright, purple Mohawk–and always providing them with the upscale environment and service they all deserve.
Black Hearts Hair House * 3535 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 * 773-525-4344
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Niloca, Theo
Hi All! It is time for Customer of The Week again, and this time we chose a lovely customer who walked in with a pair of ho-hum tortoise specs, and left with some COLOR! Congrats to Katie!!!!
Katie is a world traveller and a professor in Indianapolis, IN and she knows awesome eyewear when she sees it. She had heard tales of a magical eyewear boutique in Chicago that carried an amazing collection of funky fun eyewear. One early Saturday morning she set out on her journey, in search of this magical oasis. She endured an arduous journey full of stop-and-go traffic and evil construction monsters, but after several hours she made it to the store where beverages were offered to quench her thirst and lovely ladies helped her find the glasses of her dreams.
Katie was wearing a pair of ho-hum tortoise glasses and practically gasped at the rainbow of specs before her. She tried on many pairs, but they were too small, too big, or just somehow not right…that is until she tried on a pair of fun and funky metal pair of Niloca Clockwork glasses in a fun bright orange! They fit like a glove and had fun 3-D details and those dreamy sky blue temple tips! Glasses like these could only come from the mad genius design minds of the folks at Niloca, and they were perfect!
Now you may think that her gorgeous Nilocas are exciting, but wait until you see her 2nd pick…
a bright candy red pair of Theo Mille+12 glasses were singing their siren song to Katie. Lo and behold…Katie tried them on, and again, they too were just right!
We love how they almost GLOW on Katie’s pale skin and light blonde hair.
Katie’s journey was complete and she was happy. She returned home, happy to have found her new favorite eyewear boutique and excited about her cool and colorful new specs. AND, she lived happily ever after.
The End.
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Filed under: Shop Local. Shop Lincoln
In order to highlight our fellow independent small business owners on our stretch of Lincoln Ave., we asked our photographer, Dave Rentauskus, to take portraits of our comrades in our spectacular specs….along with a few shots of their shops.
Alissa Fields, Queen of Specs at Eye Spy Optical
Alissa is wearing her signature Theo Cinquante in Hot Pink. The bright color really pops on this classic shape and is anything but ordinary – just like Alissa!
Also known ’round these parts as The Queen of Specs, Alissa is the colorful and funky owner of Eye Spy Optical.
Eye Spy Optical came into being after many fruitless searches for red and purple glasses. Realizing that there was a lack of fun, colorful and funky glasses in Chicago, Alissa (a.k.a the Queen of Specs) decided that the folks in Chicago deserve glasses that have some personality!
Since Alissa was a kid, she wanted to start her own business. She had lemonade stands, worked in retail starting at 4 years old in her grandparents’ lamp store and earned an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Alissa’s parents’ design background guided her interests towards well-designed and beautiful objects. The Queen of Specs wore glasses since the age of 12, and always helped her friends pick out their specs. One day, it finally dawned on her … she would love to have an eyeglass shop and fit people with spectacular specs.
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Fun Facts About Alissa:
How long have you been in business? 17 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Charlie Sheen
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Mandarin Fish
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What color are your eyes? Hazel
Where did you grow up? Rogers Park, Lakeview, Glencoe, Wilmette and Evanston…Whew!
What hood do you live in now? Mayfair
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Alissa and her staff pride themselves in outfitting customers with frames that are bit out-of-the-ordinary. Many of their customers say that they are surprised at what eyeglasses they choose for them. They always hear how much our customers love their new glasses, how many compliments they receive, how much fun they had picking out frames…and how they will return to Eye Spy again and again!
They stock frames in every color of the rainbow, and sell more red and purple glasses than black glasses. They also do a ton of special orders, so if you are looking for something specific or more sedate, they can help you find it. They have spectacular specs and shades for men, women and kids.
Eye Spy Optical offers personalized fittings, “Try-before-you-buy” digital photos of you in your glasses, expert advice, comprehensive eye exams and contact lens fittings, and honest opinions…about anything and everything!! If you let them guide you and listen to their opinions, it will be easy to decide on your new pair of simply spectacular specs.
Eye Spy Optical * 3350 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago IL 60626 * 773-477-2670
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Theo, Unique Frame Lines
Snap those fingers like you are in a french jazz club for Carl, our newest Customer Of The Week!
Carl came into the store on one of those cold pre-spring days to look at new frames. He was wearing a pair of Anni Shades Glimpse frames and was ready for something a little different.
He ended up leaving with two funky new pairs of specs that are perfect for the warm sunny days that are on their way.
Carl has loved wearing his Anni Shades Glimpse and was ready for a new look, so our Optical Oracle suggested he look at some metal and acetate frames.
Carl put on a pair of Theo Cinquante+Sept in bright orange and couldn’t take them off. The color looks amazing on him and because the frames are titanium, they are light and comfortable.
He was also drawn to the chunky black Theo Mille+13. The matte and shiny textures create a fun contrast and makes these glasses anything but your basic black acetate frame.
Carl feels like glasses are one of the best accessories that men have, and we couldn’t agree more!!! He was a delight to work with and we hope he loves his new eyewear wardrobe as much as we do.
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Francis Klein, Rigards
Yep, it is Customer of The Week time again. Wiggle your spirit fingers in the air for….Heather!
Heather’s first visit to our store was a couple of January’s ago. She drove all the way from Indianapolis, Indiana so she could look at our sale frames and was blown away by the amazing selection of fun and funky frames. From that moment on, she was a customer for life!
She has made the pilgrimage to our shop a several times since (bringing friends!) and has collected a wardrobe of truly spectacular eyewear.
On her most recent trip, she picked up a couple of gorgeous frames.
Francis Klein Opera was part of our January sale, and called out to Heather the moment she opened the door. Sparkly crystals and silver studs are pretty hard to say no to, especially when paired with a flirty cat-eye shape.
When she came in to pick up her Francis Klein, she fell in lust with a pair of striking Rigards buffalo horn sunglasses. But she decided she wanted to be able to wear them all day every day, and had us put clear lenses in them. We couldn’t love them more! We love it when customers customize a frame – with a special color, or a special lens – and make the frame truly their own.
We know, you are feeling a little jealous..but don’t worry, there are still plenty of cool specs left for you to take home!
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Filed under: Niloca, Shop Local. Shop Lincoln
In order to highlight our fellow independent small business owners on our stretch of Lincoln Ave., we asked our photographer, Dave Rentauskus, to take portraits of our comrades in our spectacular specs….along with a few shots of their shops.
Johnny Begale, Sausage Kitchen Manager
Johnny is wearing a spicy Jawd frame by the Australian eyewear designer, Niloca, who are known for unexpected shapes and unique use of color in their handmade frames.
Paulina Meat Market is one of those great family business that are hard to find these days. In 1984, just as the current location was opening it’s doors, Johnny’s dad Bill, applied and started his career, learning to “break down cattle and serve carnivourous Chicagoans.” He and his wife, Laurie had the opportunity to buy the business from the original owners in 2006, and have made the market their own, exapnding their selection of fresh meats and sausages and compimentary products to appeal to the needs of their customers while still keeping the original roots of their German-American Meat Market intact.
Johnny has a degree in accounting from Illinois Wesleyan University and worked for 2 years at McGladrey, but found himself wondering if that was the right fit. He began working for the family business in 2011 with the Sausage Kitchen team. “I have an awesome family and was fortunate enough to have a place to go when I needed to take a step back and figure things out.” Johnny has also put his accounting and business knowledge to good use, helping to make Paulina Meat Market the World Class Meat Market it is today.
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Fun Facts about Johnny:
How long have you been in business? Paulina Market has been in business since 1949 (65 years)
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? I was 19 when Annapolis came out (just on the edge of teenage years), and James Franco is a stud in that movie so would have to go with him!
If you could be any animal, what would it be? I would have to be a bird, a Bald Eagle to be specific I guess. I don’t know much about Bald Eagles, but I love to travel and I love my country so that would be a sweet animal to be!
Are you right or left handed? Righty
What color are your eyes? Brown
Where did you grow up? Niles, IL
What ‘hood do you live in? Roscoe Village
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Johnny and his family want Paulina Market always strives to understand its customers and their meat-eating needs and pushes itself to be the best market in town!
Paulina Meat Market * 3501 N. Lincoln Avenue (corner of Lincoln & Cornelia) Chicago, IL 60657 * 773.248.6272
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, RES/REI, Theo
Introducing our Customers Of The Week…Ellen and Denny!
Ellen and Denny love unique handmade eyewear so much that they braved the midwest winter weather and travelled all the way from Kalamzoo, MI not once but twice to get their hands on their new specs!
Denny picked up a handsome pair of ResRei Ottone Frames.
They are comfortable and the two-tone color make them an easy pair of specs to wear everyday.
Ellen was a little more adventerous with her choice…
and went home with a bright red pair of Theo Tijl frames. They are a bold statement that look fantastic on Ellen, but she didn’t stop there…
Ellen added a bright yellow custom sun-clip by our favorite sun-clip designer, CustomEyes. The yellow looks so great with the red frame, that everyone here at EyeSpyOptical are dreaming about getting sun-clips for our wn frames!
I hope Ellen and Denny are ready for people to stop them on the street, because they looks amazing in their new specs!
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Filed under: FASHION!, NEWS!
Bold color…Check! Beautiful wearable shapes…Check! Unique design details…Check! Fantastic textures…Check! Piero Massaro frames have it all!
It is no surprise that the Queen of Specs fell hard for Italian eyewear designer’s newest offerings and had to pick them up for the store!
Massaro is an artist, playing with color, pattern and shape to create beautiful handmade eyewear. He finds his inspiration in the world around him. Simple geometric shapes are puzzled together to create bold shapes. Striped acetates evoke schools of fish swimming in the Mediterranean. Colors are inspired by the foods around him…fragrant oranges, toasted almonds, and pistachio nuts.
Massaro is the recipient of the prestegious Special Award of the international jury of the Silmo d’Or in Paris in 2014, celebrating creativity and innovation.
Each frame is carefully made by hand in Italy by skilled craftspeople. Frames are limited to 100 pcs per color and shape and each frame is numbered.
Stop by the shop and try them on. You will totally understand why we are so enamored with them!
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