Their love for their clients isn't blind.

Colorado Optical Supply has specialized in eyeglasses, contacts, progressive lenses and repairs for 25 years.

Word-of-mouth advertising, reasonable prices, a loose work atmosphere and fondness for patrons has paid off for Rich Ikelman's small business.

Snuggled in a narrow strip mall at 401 N. Greenwood St., there's more to Ikelman's shop than meets the eye.

"It's Pueblo's best kept secret," said Ikelman's wife of 41-years, Mary, who along with their 29-year-old daughter, Jayme Ikelman, work part time at the shop. The full-time employees are the opticians, Ikelman and lab Manager Judy Lipitz.

Colorado Optical also fills any doctor's prescription, but works closely with Dr. Robert Browder, a former classmate of Ikelman's at Centennial High School whose office is a block away on Greenwood.

Satisfying a steady stream of customers on a recent Friday, Ikelman and Lipitz are at their best with delightful conversation and surprising customers with their low repair costs.

"We try to keep prices reasonable. You don't have to come in here and take a number like a lot of places" Ikelman said, dressed in sandals, shorts and a black-and-purple bowling shirt buttoned down to reveal a gold necklace that matched his bracelet and gold-framed glasses.

Lipitz has worked for Ikelman for 16 years and goes by the name of "the glasses lady."

"I'm known for pulling glasses off people's faces because I can't stand crooked glasses," Lipitz said. "My favorite part of (her job) is putting glasses on a kid for the first time and they say ‘Wow!’ And they see leaves and blades of grass. It's like opening up a whole new world to them."

Ikelman's path to opticals began by answering a newspaper ad for Bausch & Lomb more than 30 years ago. He purchased the company's lab 25 years ago when it closed.

Ikelman and company have seen their fair share of odd repairs and mutilated glasses.

"My favorite was the guy who dropped his glasses in the barbecue when it was on," Ikelman said.

The memorable repair list also includes a rotomilling accident, dog bites, and boating and industrial accidents.

"There's a lot of glasses at the bottom of Lake Pueblo," said Jayme Ikelman.

Good news is that Colorado Optical sells titanium bendable frames that miraculously bend back to normal after rough beatings.

"Metal with a memory," Ikelman calls them.

nickb@chieftain.com