Lee and Kristen Stellmaker clearly saw an opportunity and they decided to turn their vision into a reality.
The Stellmakers opened the doors of KLS Optical in downtown Rochester in mid-January.
"We are a small professional optical shop," says Lee Stellmaker, the optician. "It is pretty laid back, kind of a rock and roll atmosphere."
KLS fills optical prescriptions through its in-house lab, which dramatically reduces the cost, he says. The shop handles contact lens and prescription glasses and sunglasses.
KLS carries a wide selection of designer frames. In the sunglasses section, it is one of the few area stores to carry Serengeti glasses.
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The small shop at 615 First Ave. S.W. is in the same building as Fourth Street Youth Boxing Gym, next to the Rochester YMCA.
With almost 20 years of experience in the eyewear industry, Lee Stellmaker says opening his own shop made sense.
"I just wanted to further my career. It is kind of the next step for me," he says.
