The days of being stung by the nickname “four eyes” are long gone. Eyeglasses have transformed from the geeky corrective lenses of the past into an essential fashion accessory that can add flare to any look.
But those of us who aren’t blessed with 20/20 vision know that often the selection of trendy glasses at your average vision center leaves much to be desired. Enter Eye Candy Optical, a locally owned fashion eyewear shop that is changing the glasses game in greater Cleveland.
Baldwin Wallace University MBA grads and co-owners Steve Nelson and Anton Syzdykov left their corporate work with PPG Industries to dive into the world of entrepreneurship after much frustration in finding a decent pair of glasses on the west side of Cleveland. Nelson and Syzdykov turned the retail eyewear store model upside down, asking the question, “What would it look like if Victoria’s Secret and the House of Blues opened an eyeglasses store?” Eye Candy Optical is “fun, sexy, and rock n’ roll” and isn’t pretentious even though the store carries high-fashion frames from top designers.
Located in the Promenade at Crocker Park in Westlake, Eye Candy Optical has everything you would find in a traditional vision center, with a unique twist. Customers aren’t treated like patients in a stuffy clinical atmosphere, but rather can enjoy selecting frames in an artsy environment that is just as trendy as the glasses sold.
“Treat the store like Barbie’s dream house. Come in and try some frames on, no pressure,” remarks Nelson.
Prior to opening in 2013, Nelson and Syzdykov spent three years studying the industry and looking at the coolest glasses everywhere they traveled worldwide.
“We went to optical stores from Los Angeles to London, and Miami to Moscow in search of all the best eyewear lines,” says Syzdykov. To learn more about the industry before starting the venture, the duo interviewed hundreds of people about their experiences shopping for eyewear, asking consumers what they would want in an optical center. They also hired a consultant to fill in any knowledge gaps. After taking the feedback into consideration, Nelson and Syzdykov collaborated with a local Cleveland designer, Bob Reighard at Reighard Design, to bring the concept of the store to life.
Now, after having been open for two years, the innovative store has received lots of praise from both customers and industry professionals, earning recognition as the 2nd best independent optical retailer in the nation by Invision magazine this year.
“For Eye Candy, winning an award judged by industry experts was tantamount to getting a Grammy for best new artist,” says Nelson.
And Clevelanders will be seeing a few more Eye Candy Opticals pop up in the future, as the two co-owners have plans to expand.
“We definitely think there’s room for three or four more Eye Candys in Cleveland, but we believe in walking before you can run,” explains Nelson, who comes from a sales and marketing background. “You want to make sure everything is perfect before you expand.”
“One thing we want people to know is that while we may be fashion and fun, don’t discount the fact that we make medically great glasses,” he adds. “Your vision won’t suffer. You’re going to be just as happy about your experience as a normal optical.”
Eye Candy Optical has an on-site optometrist who performs eye exams, but customers can also feel free to bring in a prescription from their current eye doctor.
Glasses wearers can stop in from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday or 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday to find the perfect pair of specs that are sure to express their sense of style.
[Written by Taylor Salamone]