CHICAGO, Ill. (Feb. 2007) – Visionworks, a leading national provider of eye care services, announced their entrance into the Chicagoland market. The first of more than 20 stores will open on Feb. 21 and is located at 239 Golf Mill Center, Suite 255, in Niles. The other new Visionworks stores, including one in the Chicago Loop, will open within the next several months.
“We feel the timing is perfect to enter the Chicago market and see a lot of opportunity for growth,” said Richard Llanes, regional senior vice president of store operations for Visionworks. “We have been successful in a number of other markets and are pleased to offer our full range of eye care services and competitive prices to Chicagoans.”
Visionworks is a full-service optical retail center that features several thousand private label and designer frames along with contact lenses at value prices. Each Visionworks store in Chicagoland will feature:
- Approximately 4,000 frames in stock to choose from (more than any other optical chain retailer in Chicagoland)
- Designer frames and collections such as Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Gant, Candies, Nine West and Bebe
- The largest selection of kids’ and value-priced frames in Chicagoland
- State-of-the-art laboratories that produce most eyeglasses in one hour
- A large stock of lenses including an exclusive line of high-definition lenses.
- Convenient hours with stores open seven days a week including evenings
- In-store Licensed Doctors of Optometry (no appointment necessary) who provide comprehensive eye exams and contact lens evaluations and fittings.
- Accepts hundreds of vision insurance plans.
“We believe we offer a broader product selection, faster turnaround time and lower prices than the competition,” said Llanes. “In fact, our regular retail prices and eye exams are significantly lower than most retail optical companies for identical products and services. We are all about giving Chicagoans the absolute best value. That’s why our motto is: Why Pay More?”
Eyes On The Community
As Visionworks expands in the local market, the retail store will partner with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to fill a great need for vision services. Visionworks will collaborate with several of the YMCA’s 34 Chicagoland centers to offer vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses to selected children and families for free.
“In our area alone, there are thousands of people in need of vision services,” said Stephen S. Cole, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. “We are thrilled that Visionworks understands the value of partnering with an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the local community. Together, through various programs and incentives, we hope to make a difference in the health and well being of our members and ensure that those less fortunate can receive proper vision care."
Visionworks and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago will announce specifics of their programs later in February.
For more information about Visionworks, including new store locations, visit www.chicago-visionworks.com.
About Visionworks
Visionworks is an Eye Care Centers of America company, a leading provider of eye care services with nearly 400 locations in 36 states. Visionworks stores feature a larger display of optical frames than any other optical retailer in Chicagoland and offer the widest selection of kids’ frames in the optical industry. Each Visionworks store offers the convenience of state-of-the-art laboratories that produce most eyeglasses in one hour and in-store licensed optometrists who provide comprehensive eye exams, contact lens evaluations and fittings and other primary eye care needs.
About Eye Care Centers of America, Inc.
Eye Care Centers of America, Inc. is part of Highmark Vision Holding Company which in turn is wholly owned by Highmark Inc., one of the largest health insurers in the United States. The retail entity, of which Visionworks is a part of, operates or manages more than 470 optical retail stores through 16 store names that are leaders in eye care service in each of their respective markets. Eye Care Centers of America stores offer customers high-quality frames, lenses, accessories, and sunglasses, including designer and private label frames, at competitive prices. All stores offer lenses at great prices and the leading technology in vision correction. For more information, visit www.ecca.com.
