Warby Parker plans a summer opening on the Plaza

Eyewear brand Warby Parker got its start five years ago as an online company.

But in the last couple of years it has opened a dozen brick-and-mortar stores. Now it plans a summer opening at 307 Nichols Road on the Country Club Plaza.

According to Warby Parker, the concept can be traced back to when co-founder Dave Gilboa lost his prescription glasses while on a backpacking trip. He couldn’t afford to replace them so he squinted his way through his first semester of grad school. His friends Neil Blumenthal, Jeff Raider and Andy Hunt also had similar problems finding stylish but affordable glasses.

In 2010, they launched Warby Parker in Philadelphia. They designed the glasses in-house and sold them online for $95 and up. They also donate a pair of glasses through a non-profit for every pair sold.

Most of the locations have a literary theme. The name comes from two Jack Kerouac characters — Warby Pepper and Zagg Parker.

Warby Parker has locations in such cities as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York.

It plans a summer opening in a 1,462-square-foot space at 307 Nichols Road, in part of the former Ann Taylor space. Madewell, a women’s clothing and accessories store, plans an August opening at 309 Nichols Road, also part of the former Ann Taylor space.

In other Plaza updates, Texas-based jewelry retailer Kendra Scott plans a late summer opening at 412 Nichols Road.

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Warby Parker plans a summer opening on the Plaza."