Each month, we are featuring a Grand Avenue business in partnership with the Grand Avenue Business Association. Businesses may have deep roots on Grand or might be new to the neighborhood. This month, we are featuring the Spectacle Shoppe. Learn more about what they have to offer at spectacleshoppe.com.

For nearly 50 years, Spectacle Shoppe has combined vision care, craftsmanship and fashion, building a reputation as one of Minnesota’s leading independent eyewear retailers. The family-owned business opened its Grand Avenue location in 2012, bringing a unique approach to eyewear that traces its roots back to founder David Ulrich.

Ulrich discovered his passion for optics while serving in the U.S. Army, where he manufactured lenses. After leaving the military, he continued working in the optical field and became known for pioneering one-hour eyewear service. He founded Spectacle Shoppe in New Brighton in 1977 with a commitment to quality service and innovation.

“The industry was really medically driven at the time,” said Vice President Logan Szalay. “We saw the need to incorporate fashion.”

That philosophy remains central to the business today. Spectacle Shoppe offers comprehensive eye exams, contact lenses, a large selection of independent designer and vintage frames, and an in-house lens manufacturing lab. The company still produces lenses on-site, continuing a tradition that began with its founder decades ago.

Today, Spectacle Shoppe carries more than 40,000 frame options across its locations, specializing in rare, vintage and independent eyewear that customers may not find elsewhere in the Twin Cities. The personalized experience has helped the company earn recognition from customers, including being voted Minnesota’s Best Eyewear Shop by Star Tribune readers five consecutive years.

For Szalay, one of the most rewarding aspects of the business is the opportunity to build lasting relationships with customers and be part of the community.

“The people are definitely the best part of the Grand Avenue community,” he said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help people find eyewear they love while building genuine, lasting relationships along the way.”