Photo Credit: Carl Cameau
Hudson Spectacles owner, Carl Cameau, has quite literally had his eyes on the prize for a while. While he was in school for real estate and property development in Pennsylvania, he worked as an optical lab technician on the side. At the time, he was intrigued by the eyecare business, but assumed he couldn’t have a future in it because he wasn’t a doctor.
This all changed once Cameau finished his degree, moved back to New York, and made his home in Nyack. He quickly took advantage of the opportunity to become a licensed optician – he did his apprenticeship with Eyevolution, the optical shop at 42 South Franklin Street which has since become the home of Hudson Spectacles – and at that point was introduced to the art and design side of eyewear, fitting, and fashion.
Once he earned his certification, Cameau went on to work for New York City’s Mykita as their Principal Optician and Lab Manager where he gained invaluable professional experience in opening and managing optical retail stores, but was starting to feel like it was time to put that knowledge to use in his own community.
“I rode the train for years – dreaming, writing, and conceptualizing what I would envision our store doing,” Cameau says, “I also wanted a place to explore the range of what I could offer as an optician. The selection of eyewear around the world is endless and I wanted to bring the collection I appreciate most to our area.”
Once Cameau made the decision to set up shop in Nyack, he never looked back. He returned to Eyevolution and eventually took over in 2020, when Hudson Spectacles was officially born. The store offers full primary eyecare and a fantastic collection of handpicked curated indie eyewear from around the world. It is a Zeiss-certified practice, meaning the quality and performance of the optics is second to none. The target customer is anyone who wears glasses, and even those who do not. The shop carries an incredible selection of non-prescription sunglasses, sports eyewear and even diving masks/goggles that can be prescription if requested.
“Our selection of eyewear and one-on-one shopping and fitting appointments are a key part of our shop,” Cameau explains. “We take the time to get to know the person behind the frame. What type of work, lifestyle, and personality they have. The shape of the customer’s face, eye color, hair, and skin all go into choosing a pair of eyeglasses that not only look amazing, but also make the customer feel confident while wearing them. I love when someone can wear something effortlessly, even when it is slightly outside the box.”
In addition to maximizing customers’ optical experiences, Cameau is in the process of opening The Parker: Framing, Arts & Gallery at 40 South Franklin St (Right next door to Hudson Spectacles in the former home of The Corner Frame Shop).
“We plan to do art framing, artist receptions, gallery events, film previews, and more,” Cameau explains, “I am really excited to continue this space in the memory of one of our great friends and local business owners, Hal Parker. Hal was everyone’s framer. He did his work in Nyack for 50 years, and passed away in January. His business was a true staple in the lower Hudson Valley, and it is an honor to continue his legacy by reopening his space for the arts community. We just finished refreshing the entire space and received all new equipment.”
Photo Credit: Daniel Silbert
Owning a business in Nyack has allowed Cameau the opportunity to give back to his community in a multitude of ways with this much needed service – one of the goals he had in opening his small business here. Cameau has partnered with the Rockland County Pride Center, The Center for Safety and Change, and the Nyack Center, to start a “Vision Scholarship” program that provides eye exams and glasses to community members in need. He has also donated over 200 eyeglass frames to survivors of the 2021 Evergreen Court Adult Home fire in Spring Valley. Last year, Cameau was the proud recipient of the Empire Award for Community Service, an honor given by the New York State Senate to businesses that contribute in meaningful ways to a community’s quality of life.
When asked about future plans for the shop, Cameau stated that he “sees Hudson Spectacles as a growing community partner that will continue to work with independent artists and designers to bring a high level of eyewear to communities outside of the greater NYC area.”
Hudson Spectacles
42 South Franklin Street, Nyack, NY 10960
Opened 2020
