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Unique and stylish glasses are available through Discount Eyewear, which has the only complete in-house laboratory with same-day service in the area. There are 10 employees, lab included. The lab is at the Rock Falls site, at 723 W. U.S. Route 30. The new Dixon location is at 847 N. Galena Ave.
Story By Pam Eggemeier & Photos By Alex. T. Paschal For Dixon Living
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iscount Eyewear, in Rock Falls for 10 years, now has a full-service office in Dixon. Owner Bob Klomann has been remodeling the building at 847 N. Galena Ave. for about 4 months, and it has been open for more than a month. The building had most recently been home to Folsom’s Bakery. Klomann’s partner is optometrist Darrin Vits of Dixon. Vits had been on staff at the Sterling-Rock Falls Clinic for 7 years before teaming up with Klomann more than 2 years ago. He works at the Rock Falls and Dixon offices. Klomann of Rock Falls said the decision to expand in the Sauk Valley was an easy one. “We were drawing a lot of people from Dixon, so we figured they’d love it if we came to them,” Klomann said. Discount Eyewear isn’t a franchise; it is independently owned, and Klomann owns just the Rock Falls and Dixon locations. Discount Eyewear has the only complete in-house laboratory with same-day service in the area. There are 10 employees, lab included. The lab is at the Rock Falls site, at 723 W. U.S. Route 30. “That’s our niche – we have our own lab, and that allows us to sell our products for less,” Klomann said. “Our prices are better because we do everything ourselves, and there are no middlemen.” Klomann grew up in suburban Palatine, and lived in Elmhurst, but he says he’s better suited for small-town life. “We had friends we visited in Rock Falls,
Discount Eyewear
Locations: 847 N. Galena Ave., Dixon; 723 W. U.S. 30, Rock Falls Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday Contact: 815-625-6195; discounteyewear@outlook.com; facebook.com/discountglasses and we really liked the lifestyle there,” Klomann said. “I grew up in the suburbs, but I’m just a country boy at heart.” Optometry wasn’t a field Klomann actively pursued, but now he is one of only four peo-
ple nationwide who make prescription diving masks. Unlike regular eyeglass, the specialty lenses are still fashioned from glass. Continued on page 9
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