A business with an ‘eye’ on family history

A 40th birthday calls for a special celebration and for Eye Designs – the boutique family-owned eyewear business that has locations in Armonk, Eastchester (with a Scarsdale postal code) and Mamaroneck – this has been no exception. On June 29th, the business kicked off its fourth decade with a block party at the 747 White Plains Post Road (Route 22), Eastchester, location, featuring music, food trucks, a customer appreciation photo session and special giveaways. 

“I’m so proud of this milestone because it means our customers appreciate what we offer – unique eyewear styles from independent brands and manufacturers, combined with our personalized, family-focused service,” said Sharon Decker, founder and co-owner of Eye Designs. “We know the reason we are able to celebrate our 40th is because of our customers, who have supported us, continued to come back to us year after year and, in essence, become our extended family.”  

A New York state-licensed optician, Decker opened the first Eye Designs, then called Eye Designs of Westchester, across from the present White Plains Post Road location in June 1984, following in the footsteps of her parents. Her mother, Gladys Mackler, worked as a sales associate at local optical shops on Long Island, while her father, Mickey, designed eyeglass stores, including the original Eye Designs location.  

“Our initial motto was ‘Manhattan Styles, Westchester Convenience.’ I thought local residents would want the top-quality styles and service they might have associated with Madison Avenue in Manhattan. But they wanted it convenient to where they live, which was in Westchester.”  

This remains the motto and vision of the growing company, which expanded to Armonk in 1999 and Mamaroneck in 2021. Last year, sales exceeded $4 million, with more than 3,200 unique frames sold. 

Ten years ago, Sharon’s son, Harris, joined Eye Designs. He is now co-owner, marking the second generation of Deckers to lead Eye Designs and the third generation to work in the optical industry.  

The customer base is multigenerational as well. “One of the best aspects of our business is working with customers who I first fit with glasses when they were children and I still work with today as adults,” Sharon said. “We are still their ‘go-to’ store, and now they are coming into our stores with their children, the next generation that we’re fitting for glasses. It’s so gratifying to be a part of their family history, as they are a part of ours.”  

The multigenerational aspect of both the business and customer base is reflective of Eye Designs’ commitment to eyewear and service, Harris added:  “As a third generation in the optical business, eyewear is in my DNA. I enjoy sourcing styles from independent makers whether in the states or overseas, bringing these styles into our stores, and then seeing our customers’ faces light up when they see frames they have not seen anywhere else. They know they are buying something special you won’t see on everyone around town. I also know our customers appreciate when they come into our stores, they see familiar faces. Many of the (15) people who work in our stores have been with us for decades. They, too, are extended family to the Deckers and to our customers.”  

The 40th anniversary will also be the kickoff of Eye Designs’ “40 Acts of Kindness” campaign. “Between now and the end of the year, we will be doing 40 acts of kindness as a way of giving back to our customers and also the communities that we are a part of,” Sharon said.  

The first act of kindness is a donation of 100 eyeglass frames to the Tuckahoe Eastchester Lions Club. Eye Designs has traditionally facilitated the community collection and donation of used frames to the Lions Club, with about 1,000 frames per year in this effort. This is, however, the first time that Eye Designs is donating new frames to the Lions Club.  

Added Sharon:  “This is just another way of our saying ‘thank you’ to everyone.”  

For more, visit www.eyedesignsofwestchester.com.