Who We Are
College Place Optical is a small, optician owned and operated family business.
With over 70 years of experience in many facets of the optical industry, and an on-site lab we make the best eyeglasses money can buy.
Our Mission
Our Mission is twofold: firstly, to provide the best eyewear money can buy; and secondly, that you see better merely because we made your glasses.
When we look for the best, we start with quality. There is a lot of “optical garbage” out there – expensive eyewear that breaks down after only a couple of years. Large corporations and insurance companies benefit from you frequently replacing your frames, and have no qualms charging people who just need to see.
By contrast, we support and work with independent frame companies and optical labs. We personally evaluate the durability and quality of frames, and view each pair of glasses as an investment. Plus, by working with independent companies, we can find excellent quality at a reasonable price.
Our commitment to excellence extends to our lab. We view cutting and fitting lenses as a skilled craft – a place where technical expertise meets art. Because we hand-craft the vast majority of our product, we maintain quality control at every step, and (as cheesy as it sounds) add our love to the process. The personal touch can’t be overstated.
Your choice of glasses is also a fashion decision; how do you want to be seen? We strive to maintain a variety of styles, from vibrantly funky to classically understated, so you can feel comfortable and self expressed. Our experienced opticians will help you choose something that suits you.
Amazing eyewear should help clarify your world, be something you're proud to wear (no matter your style), and shouldn't break the bank.
How We Are Different
We have extensive experience. Both owners have trained in the optical industry since they entered the workforce. They have worked extensively in labs, cutting and fitting lenses to frames - a rare business model in the USA, which gives them first hand technical expertise.
We value honesty and integrity. You can feel comfortable knowing that the person you’re working with will be straight with you - about what looks good, what will work with your prescription, and what add-ons are actually necessary for what you want.
We are deeply passionate about eyewear. Your glasses are not just a medical necessity, they're a personal fashion accessory. We want you to feel amazing in what you wear - no matter what your style is. Be it simple and classic or wild and funky, we’ll help you see the best you when you look in a mirror.
We are independent. Supporting us is supporting small businesses through the industry.
We treat opticianry like an art. At its core, opticianry is an intersection of technical skills and artistry, and we take both aspects seriously. As Eric likes to say, “We deal in millimeters.” From beginning to end, we do whatever we can to make your glasses lightweight, comfortable, and beautifully crafted.
The History of College Place
College Place Optical has been a small business in Edmonds Washington since the 1960’s.
First owned by Dr. Schutlz at the original location at College Place, the business was later sold to Ron and Billie Swengel who moved it to its current location at 5 Corners in Edmonds.
Ron and Billie ran the store for 28 years, amassing a large and loving community in that time and helping many, many people with their eyewear. But it was eventually time to retire.
In January of 2024, the Swengels sold the business to Eric and Evan Norrgard, another independent optician family.
Eric has been in the optical industry for around 60 years and previously owned Norrgard’s Optik in Woodinville, WA. Evan grew up in and around the industry having worked in boutiques and optometry clinics around Washington.
Together they saw an opportunity to continue the legacy of a well-loved neighborhood optical and carry it into the future.