75 Years On, George Is Still George

Niagara Falls optical shop now owned by the teenager who used to sweep up.

When Joseph George opened his Niagara Falls, NY optical shop in 1938, his entire stock of wire-frames glasses fit into a small box. A local boy named Louie Fernandez was hired to sweep the floors and keep the shop tidy. By 1949, Louie had finished his schooling and became a partner in the business, and in time his own son, James, began working part-time at George Optical. “I kind of grew up in the business,” says James, who now owns the business, still called George Optical. “Personal service is what we strive to provide,” he says, noting that he is always on hand to oversee customer transactions.

Read more and see images at Niagara Gazette