After 45 Years, This California Optical Is Still Putting People First

SOME BUSINESSES ARE built on flash and the latest marketing theories — and they can be genuinely inspiring. But others, like University Optical, serve as reminders that truly thoughtful, personalized service and trust continue to provide a lasting foundation for success. Jerry and Janet Mills took over a struggling optical department in 1980 and turned it into a trusted neighborhood fixture. Now in their 80s, they’re still greeting customers, adjusting frames, and offering the kind of service that keeps families coming back for generations. To help them secure the final chapter — and maybe start a new one — their grandson Alexander has recently stepped in with a few ideas of his own.

THE PAST

Jerry Mills was working as an optician at Loma Linda’s Ophthalmology Department when the head physician offered him the chance to take over the underperforming optical division. “My wife, Janet, and I talked it over and decided it was an opportunity we simply couldn’t pass up,” he says. They officially opened University Optical on June 15, 1980. Jerry stayed on as optician; Janet became office manager. From day one, they ran the shop by the Golden Rule. “We wanted every customer to feel valued, respected, and genuinely cared for,” Janet says. That simple approach built a fiercely loyal base — parents who once brought in their children now return as grandparents, bringing in the next generation. As Jerry puts it, “It has been our pleasure serving our community these past 45 years.”

Janet and Jerry Mills’ grandson Alexander, a recent college graduate, has helped modernize University Optical, building a website and launching an Instagram account.

THE PRESENT

Today, the shop still maintains the same boutique warmth and personal connection. “We try to make sure our customers are comfortable, not just physically, but also in asking questions and sharing concerns about their eyecare,” Janet says. Jerry, who remains the optician, prides himself on staying current with frame trends. “Customers frequently leave the store with the very first pair of frames he shows them,” she adds. Alexander, a recent college graduate, has helped modernize the business, building a website and launching an Instagram account (@university.optical). “It has been a rather slow process,” he admits, “but I’ve learned a lot and I’m happy to report that in recent weeks we’ve been starting to gain some traction!”

THE FUTURE

Retirement is bittersweet. “As we prepare to retire, we’re going through all our books and it’s bringing up many fond memories,” Jerry says. “That being said, retirement sure does sound nice!” The couple hopes to find a caring optician to take over and continue serving the community. For Alexander, watching his grandparents’ perseverance has left a deep impression.

“They’ve faced challenges through their decades in the industry,” he says. “Greedy landlords causing location changes, the unpredictability and pressures of the pandemic, and even my grandmother undergoing breast cancer treatment. Their ability to adapt, push forward and show up to work with a smile day after day has left a lasting impact on me.”