Head to the fourth floor of 122 Fulton St. and you’ll find Pride Optique‘s sun-filled showroom, presided over by owner Patty Lemus and optician Adam Alvarez. Even if they don’t know your name, Lemus and Alvarez will remember your face — and your frames.
Since 1988, Lemus has worked within a three block radius in Lower Manhattan. She spent 25 years working at downtown eye shop Pildes Optical before taking over nearly two decades ago; she changed the name ever so slightly to Pride Optique and moved to the corner of William and Ann streets, before relocating to Pride Optique’s new, refreshed space on Fulton.
What sets Pride apart from the rest, aside from its decades-long legacy in the neighborhood, is its specialty in pediatric ophthalmology. Alvarez, who is first cousins with Lemus, says this optical expertise was born years ago from happenstance and necessity after a mother came in with her preschool-aged daughter who needed glasses.
“The mom said ‘Oh thank god, I went to five different places and no one else would do it,’” he told the Downtown Alliance.
From there, Lemus and Alvarez realized the need and quickly gained customers through word of mouth referrals. Since then, the shop has become the go-to spot for pediatric eyewear downtown. (Hundreds of positive Google reviews will attest to the Pride Optique team’s professionalism and helpfulness.)
In addition to young pupils and their parents, Lemus and Alvarez say Pride also tends to attract behind-the-scenes creatives, like costume directors and writers, to style themselves. “We like working with the people who actually make the creative aspects,” Alvarez said.
Trends may come and go, but the store stocks hundreds of timelessly unique frames that range from bold and funky to sleek and understated by brands like Jacques Durand, Dolabany, Seraphin as well as a selection of one-of-a-kind vintage. “We’ve been lucky where a lot of people come in and have their own style,” Alvarez said.
Stop by the shop for just about all of your eyewear needs: cleanings, fittings, lens replacements, eye exams, you name it. Plus, most repairs are done onsite. While the ophthalmologist is not onsite all day every day, you can call ahead to find out when the doctor is in and make an appointment. See you there!
