After nearly 50 years, Martin, Thomas, Walker Optical is now under new ownership, as well as the new name, “SPEX Optical-Eyewear.”
Located adjacent to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital at 7588 Hospital Drive, SPEX is set to celebrate its grand opening on Friday from 4-6 p.m.
This comes after the retirement of optician Jeff Mullins, who stepped down in December after 25 years of serving the Gloucester community.
“They were the place to get glasses,” said new owner Crystal Stocki about Martin, Thomas, Walker.
“I loved what I did,” said Mullins. “It was never a pain to come to work.”
Mullins got his start in the optician world at Hopkins Optical in Hampton grinding lenses.
“It was a part-time job while I was in school,” said Mullins.
While there, he was able to learn a lot and eventually become an optician.
“You had on-the-job training,” he said. “It was like going to the apprentice school, learning your trade.”
Hopkins Optical kept him busy the many years he was employed there.
“You always ...