Optical Stores Minneapolis
In 1918, our founder, Dr. George Oliver Moss (on the right), graduated from Bradley College with dual degrees in Optometry and watch making. He started practicing his craft as an employee of the State Jewelers which was located next to the State Theater on Hennepin Ave. Notice the “Optical Department” sign over the door in the back of the shop.
It was in 1935, the heart of the great depression, when Dr. Moss left State Jewelers and opened Moss Optical on 7th St. near Hennepin Ave. His two sons, Robert and Anthony, soon joined the practice as opticians and the legacy of the family business began.
As their reputation grew, people from all over the state began traveling to downtown Minneapolis to see Doctor George and his sons to get quality eyewear and eyeglasses.
Moss Optical returned to the bustle of Hennepin Avenue in 1957, moving to thoroughly modern digs at 617 Hennepin next to the Gopher Theater. Eleven years later, Robert Moss, Jr., Doctor of Optometry, became a third-generation partner in the practice.
Five of Robert senior’s seven children – Robert, Jr., Dianne, Barbara, Beth and Kevin – worked in the store in some capacity during this period. From beatniks to bankers, Moss Optical became the go-to place to grab the hippest cat-eye and gem-studded frames.
In the mid-1970s, Moss Optical moved to 10 South 8th Street, next door to the bustling Dayton’s Department Store.
Kevin Moss officially joined the business in 1983, running it alongside siblings Barbara and Robert, Jr., until their retirement in 2000.
Barb’s daughter Jane represented the fourth Moss family generation when she joined the practice in 1992. Jane has become an integral part of the business and is our insurance specialist and lab technician.
More than 75 years after Dr. George Moss first began practicing optometry in downtown Minneapolis, we enter the latest era for Moss Optical, on the very same block where it all began, near the Historic State Theater. We officially became a fifth-generation business in 2006, when Kevin Beck, owner Kevin Moss’s great-nephew, joined the practice as certified optician and lab assistant. Kevin is an excellent frame stylist. He is also very mechanical and can fix almost anything – including your broken glasses.
In 2008, we jumped at the opportunity to move from our corner spot at 8th and LaSalle to our current, convenient Skyway location. At this time, Tamara Stockdale joined our team as our store merchandiser and certified optician. She has a true passion for eyewear and puts her heart into styling all of her clients. As for the future, we will continue to focus on what we do best while remaining forever grateful to all the loyal patrons that have made this family-owned business success story possible.
Celebrated 100 years of serving the Minneapolis community.
In 2020, Dr. Diamond retired after 20 years as the resident Moss Optical Optometrist. We welcomed Dr. Chad Legois to the team.
In December 2021, Brenna Esworthy joined the team as an optician and framing stylist. Then in May of 2022, Jane’s husband John joined the team.
In February of 2023, Genna Langum joined the team to provide high-quality service to the exceptional patrons of this 100+ year-old family-owned business.
