Leo Franken, left, with Manny (the mannequin) and David Downing. The community is invited to join the 25th anniversary open house at the store on April 15. (photo from Spectacle Shoppe)
On April 15, the Spectacle Shoppe will host an open house in celebration of Leo Franken’s 25 years as owner.
Franken, an optician, bought the Kerrisdale store in 2001. The location has been an optical shop since the 1960s, its name changing from Western Optical to the Spectacle Shoppe in 1999.
Born in Amsterdam, Holland, he moved to Montreal with his family when he was 4 years old. His father was an optician as well and his mother helped in their store a few days a week, eventually getting her optician’s licence. His older brother was in the teaching profession, working within the Orthodox Jewish community in Toronto.
“My dad was an optician, and the idea was that I would take over the business,” he told the Independent. “I enjoyed the field and, when he passed away in 1970, I was put in a position of keeping the practice afloat.”
Franken moved to Vancouver in 1978, because of the political instability in Quebec. At the time, the threat of the province separating from Canada was a real possibility.
In Vancouver, he became a member of Congregation Schara Tzedeck and the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, and he worked at various places before the Spectacle Shoppe came up for sale.
“It resembled the kind of store that my dad had and in a community that was similar to where I grew up in Montreal,” he explained of why he seized the opportunity to buy it.
“It took a long time,” he said of learning the commercial side of owning a shop. “I still think it is my greatest weakness,” he admitted, “but I just love the business and that is what keeps it going.”
And that love is what keeps him going, as well. Now officially semi-retired, he said he’s working on retirement, but, “it turns out, as long as I am healthy, I will be in the store at least one to two days a week.”
His wife, Marlene, has made the transition into retirement, after a career as an occupational therapist specializing in the psychiatric field. The couple has two sons, Sheldon and Josh, but each of them decided on a different career path.
David Downing is the primary optician at the Spectacle Shoppe. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, and is also the store’s eyewear-fitting specialist. Visitors to the open house will want to say hi to him and Franken, as well as the rest of the staff, Denisa and Gabriele.
They can learn more about the many types of frames the shop carries, including Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which “blend technology with everyday style,” said Franken, noting that the “glasses discreetly integrate features that allow you to capture moments and stay connected, without compromising on design.” The frames are available in a range of women’s, men’s and unisex styles.
From April 15 to 18, the shop will feature the complete lines of frame brands LA Eyeworks (“high-quality and design from Japan”), Etnia Barcelona (“colourful and youthful look from Spain”) and Lool (“lightweight metal and plastic models for a softer look,” also from Spain).
“It is a business that makes people happy,” he said when asked his main thought about his 25-year milestone. “If the client is happy, they refer more people. To see my clients keep coming back while their family grows, I share in the joy of continuing growth all around.”
He is grateful for all the support he has received, including from the Jewish community.
“It has been our privilege serving Kerrisdale and beyond,” he said. “We thank you for your trust and support throughout the years. We are grateful for the many customers who have ‘grown up’ with us over the past quarter-century. We look forward to many more years of being an integral part of Kerrisdale and its community.”
The April 15 open house will take place from noon to 8 p.m. at the store, which is located at 5683 West Blvd.