EYE WEAR INC. OPENS RETAIL OPERATION

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Ultimate Image Eyewear Inc. has opened a retail optical goods store at 110 Themis Street in downtown Cape Girardeau. The company has been at the site for two years, operating on a wholesale basis until now.

"We have eyeglass frames and lenses, sunglasses, fitting and full service," said Patricia L. Smith, who along with her husband Jack W. Smith own the business. "We offer glass and plastic lenses and can add new lenses to existing frames." They have frames from Ray Ban, Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren-Polo, Perry Ellis, Pierre Cardin and other designer lines.

She said the company's prices for goods are relatively low. "Due to being into wholesale as well, we can offer frames at discount prices," Smith said.

The Smiths started the wholesale business in 1989. They service eyeglass clinics, opthamologists and optometrists in parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Tennessee.

She is assistant controller with Capital Bancorporation in Cape Girardeau. Jack Smith has been in the optical business 15 years, having worked with Style Rite Optical Co. of Dallas, Texas; Midland Optical of St. Louis and Optical Laboratories of Jonesboro, Ark.

The are assisted in the store by Jack Smith's son, Scott Smith, as office manager, and by Kathy Day, Patricia Smith's sister, as secretary/bookkeeper.