When Village Eye Care/Optical Outfitters on Barnum Avenue in Port Jefferson closed its doors for good last July after Dr. Alfred Cossari announced his retirement, it opened up an exciting new chapter for his daughter, Danielle Cossari Paulus, who had worked alongside her father as co-founder for three decades.
The businesswoman recently re-opened an Optical Outfitters boutique in the Village at 158 East Main Street, Suite 2, in the former Reruns clothing store. The front entrance is on Arden Place across from the Port Jefferson Free Library.
The new shop still offers affordable quality prescription eyewear for children and adults with an added focus on specialty collections only found in boutique optical shops like those in New York City along with quality sunglass brands such as Maui Jim polarized sunglasses, Ray Ban, and Oliver Peoples.
“Customers are looking for these products for their eyewear more now and are tired of seeing what they can get online or in every other optical shop,” said Paulus.
Known locally for her fashion and design sense, she has also added a gift section in the store offering scarves, hats, handbags, jewelry, candles and kitchenware. Some products are created by local artisans or made by women supported by small companies that want to help women all over the world who suffer from terrible circumstances.
Local artists are also welcome to have their artisan products displayed there.
“People are missing more and more the one-to-one, mom and pop, independent care as group practice clinical offices have wiped them out so quickly,” said Paulus. “I’m calling it no more Big Business Baloney, which I mentioned in a casual conversation with friends but it really hit a nerve with a large group of people and has continued to ever since whenever brought up.”
Paulus is committed to remaining an independent with one-to-one appointments with the owner/optician to give uniquely customized service to provide well-crafted individualized eyeglasses for good vision, safety and style.
Her mission is simple — to continue doing what her patients have appreciated now as a concierge optical outfitter that does not plan on ever having to shift her focus on the numbers or seeing x number of people a day.
“Personalized quality service is becoming extinct and that’s what makes Optical Outfitters and its relationships with its patients so special,” said Paulus.
“When my father asked me 30 years ago to join him to open an optical shop I had no idea it would be the best decision I’ve ever made — to live near family/community where my kids go to the school I went to and learning how to provide care from a father with the highest values with all heart is really something,” she added.
“Quality craftsmanship, like opticianry, does not have to die in our little corner of the world and helping people while doing it should be the way.”
Join Paulus for her grand re-opening event on Saturday, March 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. to view the spring collection or drop in anytime to say hello.
Upcoming events include Mother’s and Father’s Day Wishlist gatherings with a jewelry making demonstration and sunglass fittings to be announced on the shop’s website, opticaloutfitters.com. Operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and extended concierge appointment hours are available by calling 631-928-6401.
