Pearle Vision Inc was founded by Dr. Stanley Pearle in 1958. Pearle Vision had been kept in the position as world’s largest optical stores till 1994 when Pearle Vision lost its status to LensCrafter. By today Pearle Vision has about 850 stores across USA, Canada and Puerto Rico, and together with LensCrafter, Pearle Vision is also held by Italian optical giant Luxottica Retail.
The founder of Pearle Vision Dr. Stanley Pearle was born in 1918. He graduated from optometry school in Chicago in 1940. He served in US navy for a couple of years before he joined Lee Optical in 1948. Ten years later, he started his own store. His store was profitable with his unique concept of creating modern-looking optical stores combining top-quality products and services, good prices, more choices of styles, convenient locations and flexible business hours. He also pioneered the first one-stop eye care service in American optical history, enabling the customers to have their eye examined, get the prescription, select the frames and lenses, and pick up in a few days. For quicker expansion, Pearle Vision began franchising its stores in 1981. In 1985, Pearle Vision was purchased by a UK company Grand Metropolitan in the hope of its business diversification. In 2004, Pearle Vision was merged by Luxottica.
Pearle Vision experienced its major development and expansion through 1960s to 1990s. Now as the demand from the ageing baby boomer who are willing to pay higher prices for the designer eyeglasses slips, Pearle Vision is going to face fierce competition from other discount chains and much cheaper online stores in the world.