“Life’s too short to wear boring glasses!” enthuses Chuck Eubanks, Florida Licensed Optician, stylist extraordinaire, and owner of eyewear boutique Modern Optics. He is out to show citizens of his favorite city that your glasses can be just as fun and unique as you are.
“For the same reason, it’s important people love their cars, shoes, watches, purses, etc.” he says. “These items serve a purpose, but who doesn’t enjoy a compliment now and again?” According to the many glowing reviews across social media, compliments on the glasses from Modern Optics are a constant.
Boutique Style
Eubanks got into the game when he purchased an established optical boutique in 2003. “By 2011, I decided it was time to transition to a new aesthetic: fewer designer name-brand frames and more independent ‘boutique’ frames,” he says. With his great eye, Eubanks curated a killer collection, and Modern Optics was born. The first store was in St. Pete Beach. Eubanks relocated to trendy Central Avenue in 2020, at the start of the pandemic, to be closer to his customer base in downtown St. Petersburg, the Old Northeast and Snell Isle. “If you want to grow your business, be in a location that’s growing,” he says. “There is not a better place than St. Pete and the Grand Central District.”
The smart mid-century modern style of the shop is inspired by Eubanks’ St. Pete upbringing. He came up on the wave of modernism, and now rides it to perfection. Media have taken notice, too. In the past year, both a national commercial and an infomercial scouted Modern Optics and filmed in the boutique.
“We at Modern Optics strive to offer our clients individual service, and unique frame choices and lens products,” he says. “We spend time to help people decide the look they want. Our glasses are fun, and you will get lots of compliments! I promise!”
Your Favorite Accessory
What’s so special about these glasses? Eubaks demonstrates a few new styles. “Our MODO Metal frames have colorful plastic fronts that can be easily attached with magnets to totally change your look,” he says. “People can even decorate the fronts themselves. Imagine wearing a thin gold metal frame one day and the next day adding a bright red front with applied rhinestones. Talk about versatility.”
Modern Optics now offers lenses to help with color blindness as well as UFC fighter Tony Ferguson’s Signature Edition from Dillon Optics. “He’s been wearing Dillon’s sunglasses for a long time now,” Eubanks says. “The lenses are crazy cool. They’re mirrored but with no shine to them.”
The real superstars are the iGreen line of frames. Made in Miami, the fully customizable specs are the perfect reflection of one’s personal style. “Each client can choose from over 100 styles made from plastic acetate,” Eubanks says. “Each frame is available in three sizes and in 400 colors. They come with interchangeable temples (side earpieces) in 15 colors that the client can change out themselves. They also are available with nose pads for people who need a better fit.”
To get individual attention, glasses no one else will have, and a great eye (!) for style, swing by Modern Optics and find the frames that make you feel like a million bucks. Who knew eyewear could do that?
Visit Modern Optics at 2433 Central Ave. or online at www. modernopticsfla.com, or call (727) 360-2511.
