Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Canto-Sims.
The doors of Buena Vista Optical opened as a labor of love on February 14th, 2005 in the south-side of Chicago, IL. Founded by Diana Canto-Sims and her husband Dr. Todd W. Sims because they saw how the Spanish Speaking population was under served in Chicago for their Vision needs.
Our story has always been to offer our community quality primary eye care and beautiful, stylish eyewear that fits. We provide a complimentary personal stylist that pairs you with the most flattering, comfortable specs imaginable. You don’t have to compromise fit for Fashion at Buena Vista Optical.
Award-winning eyeball doctor. Eyewear designer for “mi gente”. Industry disruptor. Diana Cantos-Sims knows what it’s like not to fit in… and when to take a leap of faith.
The daughter of hardworking first-generation immigrants, father from Puerto Rico and mother from Mexico, Diana spent the first 10 years of her life in Chicago – until her parents decided to retire to Puerto Rico, and plunged her abruptly into a new culture. “I could understand Spanish but couldn’t speak it very well. And they talked fast!”
Kids at school teased her mercilessly, so Diana quickly gained fluency. Her new home fascinated her, but “it never snowed on Christmas.” Chicago remained home in her heart.
After Graduating Optometry School in Puerto Rico, Diana met her husband Todd that was currently a resident student. They moved to Idaho only to realize their passion was serving the Spanish speaking community see better so that they could do better. Because they had family in Chicago, IL, They packed their bags and headed towards the Windy City.
Diana and Todd opened Buena Vista Optical with love on Valentine’s Day, 2005, to serve a primarily Latino community. Demystifying “eyeball doctors,” reducing the cultural stigma around eyeglasses, and educating parents and children on the importance of vision in learning, Buena Vista and Diana have won awards for their work and contribution to the community.
“Most Hispanics are born with conditions like astigmatism and do not even know they need glasses until their first eye exam.” Diana is most passionate about seeing that every child that needs a pair of eyeglasses gets one. “80% of learning is through vision. If a child cannot see, a child cannot learn.”
Next, wanting to serve her patients better, Diana turned her attention to the eyeglasses themselves. “Finding eyeglasses that fit my patients—and myself!—was always a challenge. Most eyewear on the market is European styles.” Diana researched and inquired with hundreds of frame manufacturers, only to be told, “No, we don’t make that. No one wants it, no one buys it.” Gasp!
Each manufacturer’s response frustrated Diana more, and each time she ranted to her husband. Todd’s response? “Stop complaining and do something about it.”
Living La Vida loca.
So, she did. Diana began designing eyewear for wider faces, higher cheekbones, and lower nose bridges, incorporating beautiful colors that complement our gorgeous skin tones. “No more compromising fit for fashion. No more glasses sliding off your face, too tight on the sides and in colors that just don’t look right. Now, you can have it all… and a taco!”
Each new collection quickly sold out. Diana couldn’t keep the glasses on the shelves! La Vida Eyewear was born.
Diana continues to balance roles as mother, wife, eyeball doctor, speaker, community educator and entrepreneur as she designs “smart fit” eyewear to complement Latina and Latino’s faces—and oh yeah, break the eyewear industry wide open, once and for all.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting a Business is not easy. When we decided it was time to open our practice, we went to the bank for a loan. The only collateral we had was our first home and the bank loan manager said: “No bank will lend you money to start a business until you can prove that you have been profitable for at least 18-24 months” got up from his desk and walked away.
Diana kept thinking: “80% of learning is through Vision. If a Child can’t see, he can’t learn. We have to do something!”
Determined to serve our community to see better so they can do better, Diana and Todd saved every penny they had for 9 months and sold their first home to start their business with their life savings. “It was scary but we believed deep in our hearts that we could do it”. Today, we get calls and emails from banks on a daily base offering us loans.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Buena Vista Optical – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Buena Vista optical is an eye care clinic and boutique optical that specializes in Primary eyecare and hard to fit contact lenses.
We are currently the exclusive distributor of La Vida Eyewear: “Eyewear as diverse and Bold as you where you don’t have to compromise fit for fashion.”
We are most proud of our exclusive eyewear brand “La Vida eyewear”. La Vida eyewear is designed to fit wider faces, higher cheekbones, flatter noses and come in colors that complement our skin tone.
La vida eyewear will expand Nationally in 2018 so stay on the lookout for our debut! We are also one of the only opticals in the city with an in House lab. We are able to make most eyeglasses with prescription lenses same day. This is great for emergencies and for when your family and friends come visit and lose or break their glasses.
Buena Vista Optical also offers their patients Elite eyewear collections and are authorized dealers for brands like Gucci, Fendi, Dior, Miu Miu, Burberry and Ray Ban.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago has always been a melting pot of cultures. That is what brought us back. Not to mention the amazing food, tourist attractions and the opportunity to learn from other cultures. Winters can be frigid in Chicago and the ice, snow, and Winds can take a toll on us every year.
Pricing:
- Our complete comprehensive eye exam is $179. We offer a discount of $110 to patients that do not have insurance or a vision plan. They only pay $69 for a complete eye exam.
- 80% of learning is through Vision. If a child can’t see, he can’t learn. We offer packages of frame and prescription lenses for students starting at only $39 and most made same day.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6455 S. Kedzie Ave Chicago, IL 60629
- Website: www.BuenaVistaOptical.com
- Phone: 773-863-9234
- Email: admin@buenavistaoptical.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenavistaopticalboutique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buenavistaoptical/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Buena_Vista_Chi
- Other: Snapchat: Buenavista6455
Image Credit:
Vavoom Pin http://www.vavoompinups.com
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