THE OPTICAL BOUTIQUE: On a Mission to Make You Feel Good Story by Sarah Gordon
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The Optical Boutique opened its doors in Kerrisdale in 1979 and introduced Vancouver to eyewear collections that had never been seen before. Unlike mainstream labels that the city was accustomed to seeing, the store offered independently designed collections often handmade by artisans from around the world. Owner Sue Randhawa joined The Optical Boutique as a Licensed Optician in 1997 and took over the business ten years later. She was born in India and was raised in Vancouver. The original building was demolished; in 2013, the store moved into its new home on the same site. Sue notes, “I wanted to retain the old charm of the village, and the interior of my store reflects that. I am an antique collector, and the antiques inside the store are from the happier times of long ago. I’ve collected some of these items from trips abroad. Many have been given to me by clients, and those are my favourite items. Clients enjoy the comfort of the store’s interior while knowing that they will 6
have the most innovative lenses and frames to select from.”
Sue’s natural flair for fashion was recognized by The Globe and Mail newspaper in 2021 when she was included on the list of Canada’s ten best-dressed people. “I dress the way I do because it gives me great joy, and I admire other people who do the same. I never thought it would be noticed enough to get on the Globe and Mail’s Best Dressed list. The outpouring of excitement from Kerrisdale was astounding. Every day someone will come in and mention this. To even be noticed was a career highlight,” she says.
June 15 - August 31, 2022
KerrisdaleInsider.com
