Eye Pieces of Vail celebrates big anniversary

Little did Dan Barry know that a cross-country trip from New York to California would eventually lead to him moving to Vail and opening his own eyewear store, but that is how Eye Pieces of Vail began 40 years ago.

Barry grew up in upstate New York and was a second-generation optician, learning about the optical industry from his father. After graduating as a certified optician, he joined a friend on a road trip from New York to California. On their way, they stopped to visit a friend living in Vail. An avid skier, Barry had always dreamed of coming to Colorado.

Upon arriving in Vail, Barry learned that the state “guaranteed 300 days of sunshine a year.” Having spent his life in gloomy upstate New York, he was sold. He was offered a job and a place to live within 24 hours of his visit and decided to make Vail his new home.

In 1980 there was one optical store in town. The owner of that store hired him and then four years later sold the business to him, and Barry renamed it Eye Pieces of Vail. The very first store was in the Village Center building in Vail Village and that store remains today as Eye Pieces’ flagship store. 

In the early days, it was all about Bollé, Vuarnet and Carrera. Customers were also coming in to seek out the Matsuda 2809, famously worn by Linda Hamilton’s character, Sarah Connor, in “Terminator 2.” Also popular were the Giorgio Armani 201 glasses with the small round metal look everyone wanted as well as the Oliver Peoples MP2 with clip-on shades.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

The fashions may have changed, but Eye Pieces of Vail became a staple on the Vail Valley shopping scene. For many years, Eye Pieces was open 365 days a year. It was important to keep the doors open even in the off season to help service the many locals in the valley. The Village Center store closed for the very first time in 2012 to allow for its first remodel.  

Early on, Eye Pieces of Vail became the valley’s one-stop-shop for all things optics. Eye exams have been available at Eye Pieces for almost 40 years with Dr. Giovagnoli serving as Eye Piece’s eye doctor for most of that time.

“Our motto is ‘everything from the neck up,'” Dan Barry said. “Although Eye Pieces started out as a glasses shop, it quickly transformed into a unique and comprehensive optical shopping experience. With the addition of eye exams, a state-of-the-art lens lab, snow goggles, helmets and a variety of accessories, Eye Pieces has become a one-of-a-kind shop. That evolution is a direct result of providing products that really resonate with the many locals and visitors that are in Vail. We wanted Eye Pieces to be a one-stop shop for all things vision.”

In 1986, Eye Pieces of Vail opened its second location at the top of Bridge Street in Vail Village. In the coming years, Eye Pieces expanded to Beaver Creek, Edwards, Lionshead and then in 2019 the brand opened locations in the Roaring Fork Valley.

“In total, we have eight stores, and although they are all in close proximity, we provide different products and experiences at each. For example, our Bridge Street store is our largest store and tends to be a very fun and busy environment, especially at our famous Goggle Bar. Whereas our Lionshead store is perfect for those looking for a more relaxed boutique experience,” said Dani Barry, Dan Barry’s daughter. She is the marketing manager for Eye Pieces of Vail.

In a very transient work environment found in the Vail Valley, Eye Pieces of Vail has been fortunate to have loyal employees who have worked there for a long time. Several of its employees, including Scott Poupore, Erin Beresniewicz, Danielle Miller and Orlando Martinez have collectively contributed 89 years to Eye Pieces.

“We attribute that to the amazing opportunities that the optical industry provides,” Dan Barry said. “Eye Pieces provides employees with the skills and knowledge that they can carry forward for a lifetime. It’s a very unique and valuable career path and we are proud to offer that path for many of our employees regardless of if they stay with us or continue that career elsewhere.”

In a world where many things, including eyeglasses, can be bought online, the staff at Eye Pieces of Vail believes that it is still important to make eyewear decisions in person with a professional.

“An eyewear expert will analyze fit, make sure that the glasses fit the nose bridge correctly, and the eyeglasses are best for the prescription to create the optimal vision,” said Erin Beresniewicz, sales director for Eye Pieces of Vail. “The eyewear expert will pre-adjust the frame, so the measurements are placed correctly, and order the best prescription lenses for the client’s unique needs. We explain lenses, different lens options, the newest technology and options a client doesn’t realize are available.”

“Here, the selection process is efficient, instead of searching multiple sites or traveling to multiple stores Eye Pieces has such a vast selection to choose from. People can try a variety of options that they can’t do anywhere else. You see everything in one place,” Beresniewicz added.

What matters in your community, delivered daily.

Sign up for our morning newsletter at VailDaily.com/newsletter

Eye Pieces of Vail carries some top names in the industry for function and fashion. Eyewear really is art or jewelry for your face and something that is highly visible every day and the staff helps you look your best.  

“It’s a lot of fun to always be on the lookout for the newest pair of après sunglasses, in addition to pieces that stand the test of time and become heirlooms,” said general manager Danielle Miller. “This is what I look for when curating new collections for the stores. The pieces have to have quality, intrigue and a connection to our mountain roots. It’s so much more than jewelry for your face, it is an extension of you and we keep that in mind when looking for the latest products.”

For Dan Barry, finding functional products for the customer is key, even if the team from Eye Pieces had to devise solutions on their own.

“We knew there was a need for a prescription lens product in snow goggles but there were very limited options in the market, so we made our own. Very quickly afterwards we partnered with Smith Optics to help create the Ocular Docking System,” Dan Barry said. The Ocular Docking System allowed a prescription insert to be placed in a pair of goggles so a ski or snowboarder could go without their eyeglasses and ski more comfortably with their prescription clipped to the nose piece of the frame inside the goggles.

The mission at Eye Pieces of Vail is to bring innovative products and technology to the customers, ensuring that they see and look their best.

“With that in mind, we are always looking for the latest technology in the optical industry to help our customers excel in their active lifestyles,” Dan Barry said. 

After 40 years, one of the most rewarding things is all the relationships that have been cultivated, both in terms of customers as well as the company’s enduring commercial relationships.

“We have what I consider dear friends at this point. It’s very special in business,” said CEO Scott Poupore while adding what the future holds for Eye Pieces of Vail. “We will continue to grow. We love operating in resorts and living this lifestyle. Our style is slow and steady, I see us continuing to grow for many more years.”