The Eye Man

For more than 40 years, near-sighted and far-sighted Upper West Siders — and those with astigmatisms — have found their way to The Eye Man on Broadway at 81st Street, hoping to clear up their vision and, sometimes, their minds, too.

Co-owner and licensed ophthalmic dispenser Lloyd Chautin, 71, has been there to help, manning the store almost daily since it opened, putting in the hours — up to 55 a week sometimes — and patiently working with customers to build loyalty and, in the process, increase sales.

It hasn’t been easy. “I wouldn’t want my children to be in retail,” Lloyd says, though his connections with his customers seem to compensate.

In his own words, Lloyd is a people person who has maintained friendships from as far back as elementary and high school, despite his self-described early geeky years. (“Who would have thought I’d be friends with the homecoming queen?” he marvels.) His success with relationships has paid off at work, too. It’s all about mutuality. While at least one of his customers calls him “Upper West Side royalty” Lloyd said he considers the customers the true kings and queens. “My feeling is the familiarity and the faces are important in retail,” he says. Judging by his extensive roster of faithful customers — from People magazine headliners to unknown Yelpers looking for a good deal (“The Eye Man rocks!” says one) — others feel the same way about him. They know that Lloyd can always be relied upon to provide a better lens for their future.