Eyeglass World opens at former mall site
Pictured are, from left, Oak Ridge Eyeglass World’s Jamie Beverwyk, lab man- ager; Amber Park, assistant general manager; Eric Phipps, general manager; and Audrey Lopez, sales representative. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Main Street Oak Ridge is a shopping center that took over for the previous indoor Oak Ridge Mall, much of which had sat empty in its later years. The company RealtyLink manages the property. The Courier News contacted that company, but they were unavailable for comment by press time. The three spaces are between JC Penney and the American Museum of Science and Energy and are in a building that predates the Main Street Oak Ridge development and even the Mall. The city of Oak Ridge had been considering that space for a convention center. However, it’s now working on that project as a renovation to part of Oak Ridge Recreation Center.
In the meantime, Eyeglass World has taken the space at 141 Main Street East, opening May 3. It’s between JCPenney and Old Navy. General Manager Eric Phipps said business had been steady for the first month. The store, part of a national franchise, sells glasses, sunglasses and contacts. It also leases space in the back to optometrist Sharon Mae Meikle who does eye exams. Phipps said the sunglasses were particularly popular in summer.
“I like helping people and helping my patients,” said Phipps when asked about what attracted him to his type of business. “We’re here to serve the community of Oak Ridge and we’re here to help them in any way we can.”