Warby Parker, an online purveyor of hip prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, is opening its first brick-and-mortar retail location in Colorado.
The store will be located in Boulder’s East End, at 1949 Pearl St., a spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday. It is expected to open sometime later this year.
“We’re excited to plant roots in Colorado with our first store in the state, in Boulder,” said Dave Gilboa, co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, in an emailed statement. “We love the city’s natural energy, and can’t wait to give our local customers the chance to experience the brand in person.”
The Boulder store is part of a rapid brick-and-mortar expansion for the online brand, which got its start selling on-trend, low-cost eyeglasses direct to consumers in 2010. Company officials told The Wall Street Journal earlier this year it planned to open at least 25 new retail locations in 2017, raising its total store count to about 70.
The company has already started advertising for jobs in Boulder — current postings are for an optician and part-time and full-time sales advisers.
Warby Parker stores essentially operate as showrooms for the online retailer, with in-house opticians on hand to do free professional adjustments on its frames. (Some locations do on-site eye exams, too.)