Locally-Owned Business Profiles 2010
Rick Blankenship, Broome Optical
Broome Optical Offering over 80 years of expertise in optical care
R
ick Blankenship, director of operations of Broome Optical in Amarillo, Borger and Pampa, has been in the optical business for so long, he can’t imagine doing anything else. “This is all I’ve ever known. I’m 56 now and have been working in the business since I was 14,” Rick says. Broome Optical was started in 1929 by Rick’s great-uncle, Ed Broome. His father, Gary Blankenship, purchased the company from Ed Broome in the early 1950’s with optometrist, Jess Ghormley. Gary sold his interest in 1983 and Dean Beddow, Jess Ghormley and Burl Southern became principal owners. In 1998 Broome Optical was purchased by Panhandle Eye Group, LLP.
Broome Optical
A Division of Panhandle Eye Group, LLP 3408 Olsen Blvd. Amarillo, TX. 79109 806.355.5633 www.broomeoptical.com
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“I originally went to work for Broome Optical when I was 14, working in the laboratory during the summers for my dad,” Rick says. From there, Rick owned a retail optical store in
Locally-Owned Business Profiles 2010 • Special Advertising Section
the early 1980’s called Fashion Optical, and then he went on to own a wholesale optical laboratory, Plasti-Lab. In 2000, Panhandle Eye Group decided to put a grinding optical laboratory at the Broome Optical office and approached him to operate it. Rick decided to close his wholesale lab and started working for Broome Optical once more. Now, Rick manages the business and runs the day-today operations. “We have been in business since 1929 and are the oldest optical entity in Amarillo,” Blankenship says. “At Panhandle Eye Group, we tout our expertise in cradle-to-grave care.” Blankenship says another thing that sets Broome Optical apart is its high standards. Broome Optical requires their opticians and optometric technicians to become fully certified. “It requires extensive training and testing,” he says. “Texas doesn’t require opticians to become nationally certified but we set the bar high.” Panhandle Eye Group has purchased land at I-40 and Western and plans to build the new Broome Optical south of the Olive Garden in the near future.