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 Bard Optical has been in the same location in the
mini strip mall attached to the former Kroger store in Lincoln for
the past 26 years. Bard’s Area Manager Annette Welch recently noted
that the strip mall was built onto the large grocery store building
26 years ago and Bard Optical moved into their old location when it
was brand new. They were among the original tenants of the building,
and over the years are the only tenants who are still in the mall,
they are simply moving down a few doors.
Welch said that after 26 years, optometry, like many other areas of
medicine has expanded and become more precise with advanced testing
and other evolving practices, all geared toward offering patients
with eyesight issues better diagnoses, and better outcomes.
Bard had come to the realization that in their old location, the
space allotted for the doctor and for new testing technology was
insufficient. However, a remodel of that existing space would take
lots of time, with the moving of walls and a total re-purposing of
the floor plan. She said that to remodel the old location would have
meant time lost serving patients as there would have been days of
closure or at least disrupted services during that remodel.
Instead the company opted to move the offices. She said it was the
smart thing to do. The square footage in the new location is the
same as in the old offices. The difference is that there is more
space taken up in those medical and testing areas and a little less
space in the waiting and fitting areas.
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All in all, Welch said the staff and the doctor are
very well pleased with the new location, and the idea that they did
not have to work around a remodel. Welch said the company spent
several months making the new space perfect. In the end, she said
the very best part of it was that the staff moved from one location
to another in about 36 hours. She laughed and said, “It was
exhausting, but fun.”
The Lincoln office is manned by Office Manager Josie Awe, who has
been with Bard for four years. There are four members of the support
staff and one doctor – Dr. Sandra Pelfrey-Jones.
Bard's staff are hopeful that the community will attend the Grand
Re-opening and ribbon cut. After the cut there will be refreshments
served inside and guests will be encouraged to come in, meet the
doctor and staff, and enjoy a time of exploring the new facility.
Welch, who has been with Bard for 10 years, is the area manager over
four offices. She is very proud of her hometown office and is also
looking forward to sharing it with the community.
[Nila Smith] |
