Eye Love Spearfish, Spearfish, SD
OWNER: Antwan Randolph,OD, and Chelsea Randolph; URL: eyelovespearfish.com; FACEBOOK: facebook.com/eyelovespearfish; INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/eyelovespearfish; FOUNDED: 2021; AREA: 780 sq. ft.; TOP BRANDS: Kirk & Kirk, Ethnicity Eyewear, Eyes of Faith, Tavat, Ray-Ban, Blackfin; EMPLOYEES: full-time, 1 part-time
Chelsea and Dr. Antwan Randolph with their children in the optical at Eye Love Spearfish.
WHEN SEATTLE-BORN and raised, Indiana-trained Dr. Antwan Randolph and his wife Chelsea settled down in the small, picturesque South Dakota mountain town of Spearfish, on the northern edge of the Black Hills National Forest, it was something of a homecoming for Chelsea, whose birthplace of Sundance is just a 30-minute hop across the Wyoming state line. Confident that the area’s diverse community of lifers, transplants, university students, young families and retirees presented the perfect opportunity to make the most of Dr. Antwan’s pediatric and vision therapy training, as well as Chelsea’s styling skills and passion for fine eyewear, they opened Eye Love Spearfish in 2021. Since then, they haven’t looked back, building a successful practice and raising a bustling family of five young kids and three dogs.
Dr. Randolph’s interest in pediatrics was kindled during his final-year rotations in optometry school and solidified by his time training and working at a primary care practice with an emphasis on pediatric vision therapy. “Out of necessity,” says Chelsea, “he worked in retail optometry and saw up to 50 patients per day. This experience was wonderful but he knew he wanted to spend much more time with his patients in exams, giving the best care he can and being able to listen more.”
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That goal has come to fruition with Eye Love Spearfish, a family-friendly office serving the local community and surrounding areas. Housed in a gorgeous 780-square-foot standalone building designed to mimic the small white barn that stood on the site — originally a family ranch — for many years, the space manages to be not only warm and welcoming, but also modern, chic and fun, with bright interiors and clean lines. “We chose to have a small, more intimate setting,” says Chelsea. “Here you are truly welcomed and appreciated.”
Arriving patients are greeted and checked in by the team, who pay particular attention to reviewing medical and insurance information to avoid unwanted surprises. In the exam lane, says Chelsea, “Dr. Randolph just truly listens and takes the time to understand and help his patients. He has been given a gift that we can contribute that came from our Heavenly Father. It’s a blessing that we can offer that to the community around us. He has extensive knowledge in vision therapy and some sports vision. These are truly rare as it does take extra time and constant learning to offer the best we can for each patient.”
Eye Love Spearfish’s clean, elegant esthetic translates smoothly from the physical store to its digital presence, which foregrounds the Randolphs’ strong faith, as well as their family and community spirit. “We like to incorporate the Lord’s message in our marketing and involve our community and surrounding businesses as much as possible,” says Chelsea, pointing to collaborations with other local family-owned businesses such as the Freckled Fox boutique, “run by an amazing mama and two daughters.” She adds: “Our socials will show all local faces: university students and faculty, local artists, our amazing employees, other business owners, our own children. We use the beauty around us in the hills. We try our best to support other small businesses.” Chelsea thanks the “truly wonderful” Miss Emilia at Sienna Social Studio for her help with social media.
Other shout-outs include Eye Love Spearfish’s “amazing team” of Shayna Soderstrom, Kaila Peterson and Madison Gould, as well as both Chelsea and Dr. Randolph’s families, Shaw lenses, Sundance State Bank and the “amazing frame reps” who have helped Chelsea put together her highly curated selection of frames, which are mostly exclusive to the practice in Spearfish, though they also carry some well-known and loved brands that people recognize.
“This is my passion,” she says. “I love showing people something slightly new and different for themselves and watching their faces light up with a new confidence. Frames are something most of us wear daily — they should complement personalities and bring out confidence. So fun…” She also offers styling services. “There is zero pressure and only honesty about what looks best or would complement each individual. As a personal stylist, I thrive in this space.”
It’s an approach that typifies the generosity of spirit to be found here, summed up in the practice’s manifesto: “We believe in human kindness, knowing that if we all relate to one another in love and understanding, God smiles!”
Five Cool Things About Eye Love Spearfish
1. LOCAL TALENT. As you walk in you will see local artist Kathy Sigle’s work on the practice’s pink brick wall.
2. THE LAST DETAIL. Even the beautiful bathroom was designed to feel special. “Honestly my favorite space in the building,” says Chelsea.
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3. A GOOD EYE. Chelsea chose all finishes and furnishings herself (Dr. Randolph was consulted, she hastens to add…)
4. TAKING FLIGHT. Doc and staff wear matching scrubs and retro Air Jordans on Fridays.
5. BLESSED. “We have been blessed with five beautiful kiddos that you will see grace our socials and website as they are God’s greatest gift to us.”
PHOTO GALLERY (19 IMAGES)
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JUDGES’ COMMENTS
- This family-friendly business that emphasizes engagement in the community is a beacon for quality care with a very refined and buttoned-down presentation. The expert patient care and the interesting offering of high-quality eyewear brands, makes this a best-in-class experience for patient care and expert frame styling. — David Duralde, Chief Creative Officer, OGI Eyewear, Minneapolis, MN
- Eye Love Spearfish wows you from the moment you see the building — cool, welcoming and stylish. The patient experience and interior mirrors that as well. Congrats, Dr. Randolph on a beautiful practice! — Jenn Denham, Head of Business Development, Review Wave, McKinney, TX
- The website was very visually pleasing. I did enjoy how the Instagram stays very cohesive with the website branding. — Paige Kraemer, ABOC, Sales Consultant – Minnesota, Cherry Optical Lab, Green Bay, WI
Fine Story
Dr. Randolph has all employees complete an enneagram personality test to determine how best to communicate with them during the onboarding process. Along with Dr. Randolph and the rest of the team, “I myself have taken the enneagram test,” says Chelsea. “Antwan spent almost two years in an amazing practice in Washington, where he saw the fruits of knowing your team members well. The test is a tool for better understanding how to know one another well. We all communicate differently, hear differently and feel differently. It’s just a better understanding to improve communication and unity in our office.”