Warby Parker is opening a retail store in South End

Warby Parker’s official company name, Jand Inc., was issued building permits on Friday. Permits suggest that Warby Parker will take over the old Savory Spice Shop space (this store has now moved next to O-Ku and Big Ben). The space is 1,400 sqft.

Atherton Mill is blossoming to the retail hub of not just South End, but the entire Uptown area. First Anthropologie, then Free People and Alton Lane, EDENS has done a fantastic job assembling a top notch baseline of retail focused tenants (not to mention the delicious addition of O-Ku Sushi).

For the uninitiated, Warby Parker is a trendy brand of prescription glasses/sunglasses that offers its glasses (generally) cheaper than most, while still maintaining a damn high level of quality and a stellar fashion sense.

This is a major win for Atherton and the finally developing retail scene around Uptown.

It adds a huge name to the fold and one that doesn’t take brick and mortar stores lightly. Warby Parker’s current 38 retail locations are generally in majorly retail focused cities like Seattle, New York, Chicago, LA, DC, etc so them coming to Charlotte is a big deal.

It shows the market here is finally ready for true retail and that we are a viable city to support that.

More on this and Atherton Mill as stories develop and kudos to EDENS for continuing to build Atherton into a world class area.

Warby Parker representatives declined to comment at this time.