An Optical Galleria: Where Health Care Meets Fashion by Michael Valliant
an optician for more than 39 years. When the Pinos opened their first location in Centreville in 2002, they merged their passions for eye care and art. They offer comprehensive eye exams, including diagnosis, treatment and managing eye disease. But they also recognize how important it is for people to love their glasses. “From the beginning, we've just done things a lot different than others,” Niki said. “When we opened the Centreville store, we merged Bob’s passion for optometry and my passion for art.” Niki graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and has been in marketing and advertising since 1988. She designed each store, and
Imagine you are at the beach. You are thigh-deep in the ocean when you get caught off guard by a phantom wave that knocks you down. You get back up and your prescription glasses are gone. The ones you need to drive, to see, to live. And you are stuck. That’s a reality that Bob and Niki Pino encounter regularly. And it’s why they opened the Ocean City location of An Optical Galleria. “One of the reasons we opened the store in Ocean City in 2014 was to be able to offer a quick turnaround for lost or broken glasses,” Niki said. “With our lab on site and the ability to make glasses in an hour, we have saved so many people’s vacations.” The story behind An Optical Galleria goes back further. Bob has been
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