Council Opticians

History

Council Opticians was found in 1953 by Dr Bernard Hoffman and his wife Anne and is still locally owned. The original idea was to provide top quality eye care at affordable prices. Council created quite a stir when it opened because prices in Western New York were quite high. This new upstart company was offering quality and service for a fraction of the cost. Council was making glasses ‘while you wait" in the mid l95Os, decades before the advent of Superstores. In its heyday, the original location at 34 Church Street (now North Division) had over 30 employees. Council made glasses for a few celebrities, including President Johnson, who needed a pair in a hurry. Council prospered over the years and opened numerous suburban and local locations.
The name Council came from the endorsement of the AFL-CIO COUNCIL, Council Opticians received when they opened. Union business was and is a critical part of the operation. Council has been a Union shop since it opened Council was one of the first companies to have full time Optometrists on staff. People could come in and get their eyes examined ad get new glasses on the same day. Problems and emergencies could be taken care of quickly and many generations looked to Council for their eyecare needs. Going into the next millennium Council is looking forward to serving future generations.