iiis. an optical shop

If you don’t want to feed the Luxottica monster (my friend G told me that they dominate the the market, as well as own LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut), iiis is a perfect way to rebel.
The design of the shop is quite funky and artsy (be careful not to fall into the pit!) and has all of the frames out so you can try them on as you like. I hate when all the frames are under lock and key; it really hinders the trying-​on process. I checked out a couple of eyeglasses places in Birmingham and found myself drawn to the more obscure and unique frames at iiis. No Ray-​Ban, Prada, or Vogue here.
The ladies are all very nice and are very helpful and patient if you take hours to decide on your frames (ahem, me). Low pressure sales tactics. They are happy to help to find frames or if you want to browse solo, that’s okay too. Plus they will even write down the glasses you’re considering, both in their book and on a little card for you to take home. I’m not crazy about the location of Five Points but at least it’s centrally located.
iis is a little more expensive than what you might pay at other places but rest easy in the knowledge that you’ve got a very special pair of frames and are supporting a locally-​owned shop. I did consider buying eyeglasses online but you just can’t get personalized service like this online. This is great if you need adjustments later on. I’m very happy with my handcrafted-​in-​the-​USA hipster specs!

iiis is a great little optical shop located in 5 Points South with a fun play on the name (iiis =eyes). They have a classic and trendy selection of eyewear with excellent service. I found the prices to be comparable to any other locally owned shop of this type. I was very impressed with their personal service. This is not something you get at the large chain optical stores or even the large locally owned optician with multiple locations. After my visit today, I will definitely recommend iiis Optical Shop to my friends.