MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new optical shop in Hutchinson is aiming to fill what owner Jennifer Davis sees as a gap in affordable eyewear options for local residents.
Davis recently opened The Eyeglass Spot, located at 904 North Main Street, an independent eyewear business focused on providing lower-cost prescription glasses while still offering personalized service and quality products. She said the idea grew out of her experience working as an optician after returning to Hutchinson around 2020.
“I saw that there was a lot of people out there that needed glasses but weren’t able to afford them,” Davis said. “There was a need for it.”
Davis said many consumers are often left choosing between high-end optical retailers and lower-cost online or big-box options. Her goal is to offer something in between.
“I feel like there’s a gap in this community,” Davis said. “We’ve got kind of the high-end stuff, and then you got the Walmart or online, but I think this is kind of somewhere meeting in the middle.”
The Eyeglass Spot offers frames ranging from about $65 to $200, with single-vision lenses starting around $110 and progressive lenses around $250. Davis said the business keeps prices lower because it operates independently without franchise fees or an in-house doctor.
She said the shop can also replace lenses in customers’ existing frames, including safety glasses and frames purchased elsewhere.
“A lot of people have a frame that they really like,” Davis said. “I can get lenses for you, so I can update your current lenses, whether you need a new script or whether your lenses are just in really bad shape.”
Currently, lenses are produced through a lab in Iowa, with most orders taking about 10 days to complete.
Davis said her background is in business management and customer service, but her time working in optical care helped inspire the business.
“I’m a Hutch person,” she said. “I feel like I felt the struggle with people. I, as well, was in the same spot where I didn’t have insurance.”
The shop serves both children and adults and offers youth frames designed for durability. Davis said she hopes to expand offerings over time based on customer demand, including potentially adding safety glasses and additional frame styles.
Rather than pursuing luxury brands, Davis said she wants to stay focused on affordability and flexibility for local customers.
“I would like to be able to help as many people as I can see well and be able to afford it,” she said.
The Eyeglass Spot is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store is closed Sundays.