Why did you move? and is the ATM staying?

Since Queens Birthday weekend, we've relocated our Karori branch 2 doors along from our previous space, to a brighter new site on the corner of Karori and Parkvale Road.  The site was previously ANZ bank, and became available from 1 April 2021, so April and May was a busy time with designer, architect, builders, painters, floor sander, carpet layer, plumber, electricians and sign writers all coming together to make our space ready for our move. The ATM is staying, the service side of it is a room within our store, although you hardly notice it from the inside.

We love our new space, there's more room in our frame area for both an expanded range of eyewear and for people to move around - especially when we have families with children choosing their glasses. Our previous space had solid walls and no room to expand our testing equipment, but now we have a much larger consulting room and have been able to fit in advanced technology imaging and testing equipment.

The geek parts of us are really excited to have the OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) imaging and computerised visual field testing equipment.  The OCT enables imaging of the layers of the retina and optic nerve head, to micron levels, so provides an excellent clinical indication for ongoing eye health monitoring and then ophthalmological referral as indicated.  For those of us with family history of macula degeneration and glaucoma, the baseline measuring is excellent and will provide better management and signs of change will be detected earlier.

So "why have we moved"?? we knew we were going to have to be out of our old site for months with further earthquake strengthening - living in Wellington yellow stickers on buildings isn't uncommon, but it had to be part of our planning.  The new corner site has been extensively strengthened and evidence of this with some K framing and steel pillars.  We now have the space to provide a level of service for both eyecare and a wide range of eyewear locally, that equals the CBD and look forward to meeting more locals.

Thanks to our amazing team from Lintott Construction, Kieran Kelly Painters, a.k.a architecture, Native Grain Flooring ,Good Nick Flooring, Wellington City Plumbing, Newson Electrical and Wellington Signs creating the vision from Lynne Parker our designer.  You all worked fast to make our short timeline come together - thank you!