It’s called Art for Your Face, but it is not a store for children to enjoy the great fun and excitement of face painting. Instead, Larry Armstrong has created an unusual, boutique-style optical shop that specializes “in high-end frames and personal service.”
Located on Olde Towne Road near the intersection with Richmond Road, the optical destination opened in January 2014 after having businesses earlier in Tysons Corner Mall in Fairfax County, and Wilmington and Pinehurst, North Carolina.
In addition to the name, Armstrong had trademarked a version of a Vincent van Gogh self-portrait, but with sunglasses.
“Honestly, I guess the shop should have been called Art for Your Face — Optical, but it just didn’t seem to fit. Maybe van Gogh with sunglasses says it all.”
Art for Your Face primarily sells Costa Del Mar polarized sunglasses for men and women that range in price from $159 to $299 a pair. Costa glasses “are high performance glasses whose characteristics make them good for fishing” and hardcore water adventures according to advertisements.
“I stock a lot of inventory of frames for prescription glasses,” he said, and also maintains an in-house laboratory for precise work that reduces the customer’s waiting time. Armstrong stressed that he “doesn’t do much volume” and tries not to bother local doctors’ (optometrists and ophthalmologists) businesses. “In a way, I’ve stayed under the radar and that’s fine with me.”
Armstrong, who was in the automobile business for 20 years, served as an apprentice for five years before becoming an optician in 2007 at a store he owned in Wilmington.
“My parents became ill and we decided to move back to this area in 2012,” he explained. “I was born in Newport News and my family always lived here. My father was a shipbuilder for 50 years.”
After selling in Wilmington and Pinehurst and returning to Virginia, Armstrong looked for a place to open his new store. Tyson Corner was selected “and for a number of years I commuted twice a week or so between here in Queen’s Lake (in York County) and Tysons Corner. Then I decided to open a shop here.”
Upon entering the shop, 14 large carved wooden display cases quickly capture your attention. He opened the Wilmington store so quickly that doors on saw-horses were used to display his products.
“I was driving down I-95 and saw this Indonesia furniture for sale under a tent. There were only two large cases there and I said I needed more. Finally, I bought what I needed along with tables and chairs also for the shop,” Armstrong said.
He took the doors off and installed mirrors, glass shelves and lighting. The showcases moved to the Tysons Corner store and ultimately to James City County, where they have become a distinctive part of Art for Your Face.
Old market name to return
The Crossroads Market on Dare Road in Yorktown is returning to its old name — the Dare Market — after the building’s owner and proprietor of the next door Dare Deli and Steamboat House decided not to renew the market’s lease.
Owner Chris Pittman also bought the market from Donald Bramlett and plans to continue the convenience story operation. The market is currently closed while the transition is undertaken. Pittman did not return several telephone calls.
“I’ve been negotiating with (Pittman) on deals for the assets and equipment. I’m super happy he’s keeping it a convenience store for the people in the neighborhood. It’s been a convenience store for quite a while, rebuilt in the mid-late ’70s,” Bramlett said
“I’ve worked very hard to keep it a nice, safe, clean place. My customers are wonderful people and they’ve supported me for 10 1/2 years and I’m grateful.”
New home cleaning service
Jessica and Jeff Ruiz have opened a new professional home cleaning business with a franchise of Home Clean Heroes of Virginia Beach. With offices on McLaws Circle, the new company, Home Clean Heroes of the Peninsula, currently has three core teams that service a broad area around Williamsburg, including Hampton and Newport News.
The company offers individual boxes of supplies for each home to stop any potential cross-contamination, according to Jeff Ruiz. “Our products are eco-friendly and safe around pets and children. Our main cleaning solutions also serve as a disinfectant and antibacterial (agent), which are much needed in the (face) of the coronavirus reports.”
