Saturday trunk show. at Levato & Gaudiomonte Opticians
Don Axelband, Owner
Don Axelband’s curiosity of the optical industry peaked early in his childhood. At the age of 12, he was fitted with his first pair of prescription eyeglasses. As a young child, he always inquired how his eyeglasses were made. As a full time eyeglass wearer, his curiosity peaked to the point he wanted to dedicate his future career to answering these questions. In 1978, Don graduated New York City College in Brooklyn, and received his Degree as a Licensed Optician. After working for 2 years at the Optometry School at the State University of New York, he taught students to dispense and manufacture eyewear. He later traveled to Georgia and Florida to manage and operate several well established optical businesses. In the years to follow, he missed his hometown and moved back to New york where he met and married his wife Tammy, and went on to have 4 beautiful children while setting down their roots in Northern New Jersey. He worked as a well respected optician in Bergen County for 15 years until he realized the pride of ownership was his next step. He jumped at the opportunity of purchasing Levato & Gaudiomonte Opticians in Ridgewood, NJ when he heard it was for sale. Levato & Gaudiomonte had a long established town heritage of first rate style and service. He knew this is where he had to be. He acquired the business in the year 2000. Continuing the legacy of Levato & Gaudiomonte, which originated in the 1950’s, Don, along with Doris Calautti, worked together as a team to continue the finest level of service and selection the local and surrounding areas had grown to love and expect. His dream had come true.
Doris Calautti
As a 1986 graduate of UMASS at Amherst, Doris took a part-time job in an exclusive optical shop in her junior year of college. She was fascinated by the choices, decisions and knowledge necessary to sell and select the correct pair of frames and lenses to a prospective customer. Doris absolutely loved transforming a person’s appearance to highlight their best features. She created the approach that eyewear should not look like a “medical device” but as a “fashion accessory”. With an unknown natural instinct to provide this service, her passion for the industry blossomed. Now, twenty five years later, Doris has never left the industry. She found her “true love”. She had become a sales representative for several prestigious eyewear manufacturers during those years to broaden her understanding and experience of the optical industry. In the year 2000, Doris Calautti joined Don Axelband when he purchased the well established optical store, Levato & Gaudiomonte Opticians in Ridgewood, NJ. Don, a well respected optician with 30 years of his own experience and a tremendous following knew he and Doris would make the perfect team. Ten years later, and still going strong, the rest is history!
Levato And Gaudiomonte Opticians
21 Oak St
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 445-3189
https://www.levatoandgaudiomonte.com/
