Eyemart Express’ first Tennessee store opens this week. The 3,500-square-foot store in Jackson, Tenn., is the retailer’s 230th location across 42 states.
DALLAS—Eyemart Express is expanding its national footprint with the opening this week of its first store in Tennessee. The 3,500-square-foot store in Jackson marks the retailer's 230th location across 42 states. The value optical retailer was founded in 1990, and as of last October it is owned jointly by the investment groups Leonard Green & Partners and FFL Partners, along with the founding Barnes family. Leonard Green & Partners completed its initial strategic investment in the company in October, but FFL Partners continued to hold a majority stake in Eyemart Express at the time, as VMAIL reported in October.

“We are proud to bring our affordable and same-day optical solution to Tennessee and help the Jackson community see clearly in a safe manner,” Michael Bender, Eyemart Express’ chief executive, said in the announcement. “In our current economy, consumers are pressed for time while looking for value when purchasing high-quality prescription eyewear. Our stores are positioned to make the glasses buying process easy for shoppers of all walks of life and budgets. We even send them home with quality, proper-fitting glasses on the same day with our on-site labs."

Eyemart Express strives to provide a seamless customer experience with an emphasis on speed and convenience, the announcement noted. All stores carry a selection of more than 2,000 frames for the whole family.

Eyemart Express stores also are outfitted with onsite labs and skilled lens technicians so that high-quality glasses can be ready in as little as 30 minutes. In addition, all frames come with a complimentary one-year warranty that covers any adjustments or breakages, the company said.

Eyemart Express' safety plan includes a mask requirement, limiting the number of people in stores at one time to allow for social distancing, and frequent cleaning of frames and store surfaces. Eyemart Express noted that the store’s opening has created about a dozen new jobs, ranging from full- and part-time sales associates to lab technicians and licensed opticians.

To get additional information about Eyemart Express and the optical retailer's first store in Tennessee, click here.