Site for Sore Eyes

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. At Site for Sore Eyes, an old optician shop in downtown Portland, customers often noticed something peculiar when they came in after dark. A little terrier puppy would always greet them at the door, wagging its tail and jumping up with unseen joy. No one knew where it came from or whose dog it might be, but everyone agreed—this tiny canine seemed particularly happy to see every new face that walked through those ancient doors. One day, a delivery driver arrived carrying a box of glasses. The puppy leaped onto his lap, causing him to drop everything. As he bent down to pick up the scattered frames, the little guy started enthusiastically sniffing around the boxes—and emerged triumphantly holding a pair between his teeth! Everyone laughed as the bemused driver tried explaining to the manager that ‘the dog chose these’.

2. At Site for Sore Eyes, an old optician shop in downtown Portland, a delivery driver once asked with a puzzled look: ‘Why does everyone here keep talking about seeing double?’ A regular customer overheard the conversation and chimed in, 'Oh, that’s because they’re trying on those new progressive lenses!' Everyone laughed, realizing it was just another day at Site for Sore Eyes—where vision problems were often more amusing than serious.

3. At Site for Sore Eyes, an old optician shop in downtown Portland, a delivery truck parked crookedly on the street one morning. When the door opened, out stepped not just the usual driver but a small herd of goats, bleating and staring curiously around. Inside, the regulars stopped mid-conversation, their eyes wide with surprise. The goats calmly browsed through racks of glasses, occasionally sniffing curious customers. Eventually, the delivery driver explained sheepishly that he’d borrowed the goats from his neighbor’s farm to help with marketing—apparently, they attracted more attention than any advertisement could.

4. At Site for Sore Eyes, an old optician shop in downtown Portland, a curious child kept appearing every afternoon. As soon as she entered, the store’s vintage eyeglass display cases would start gently humming and rearranging themselves, as if trying to catch her attention. One day, an enthusiastic delivery driver walked in, adjusting his glasses. Suddenly, the displays settled into perfect alignment—right onto his nose! Everyone burst out laughing, including the little girl who had been watching with wide eyes. From then on, whenever anyone needed their vision checked or just a good laugh, they knew exactly where to go.