Roberts Family Eyecare has been a staple in the Monett, Missouri, community for 72 years, and has undergone a significant remodeling and expansion, with a grand reopening held in late April. The practice, which has served the local population of approximately 10,000, has doubled its size and rebranded to reflect better who they are and their commitment to providing exceptional eye care.
The expansion was prompted by the need for more space. Previously, the three doctors, Aubrey Roberts, OD, who took on primary remodeling tasks, her father-in-law Jerry Roberts, OD, and her husband, Mike Roberts, OD. were sharing a desk and computer in a crowded environment. “We were busting at the seams,” Dr. Aubrey Roberts explains. The practice’s name still included a former partner, who left had eight years prior. So the timing for a rebranding coincided perfectly.
OUT WITH THE OLD
The practice now features a modern aesthetic with wallpaper accents in grays, whites and navy, complemented by walnut wood finishes. The first thing that visitors to the location see is a large front desk in an open optical. The desk is set off by a waterfall-look wallpaper and a logo built around a stylized R that evokes an eye in the center. “I love the logo—we had so many people come in,” Dr. Roberts adds, highlighting the positive reception from the community, which turned out in large numbers for the grand reopening. Her husband took the lead on the logo redesign, which also displays the practice’s Vision Source connection. And a local sign company created the logo and signage.
That wallpaper, along with another wallpaper that looks and feels liked textured concrete add striking visual elements to the space. The previous office design, characterized by oak finishes and green countertops, has been completely transformed. The reception area, which once resembled a small window, has been redesigned to create a more welcoming environment. “It looks completely different,” Dr. Roberts notes. “The optical is double the size. We increased our frames by about 20%, but we display them completely differently.”
The expansion also includes an increase in exam lanes, from four to six, allowing for more efficient patient care. “We wanted additional exam rooms and a fresh look,” Dr. Roberts says.
FULL-SERVICE CARE
The practice primarily focuses on primary care, serving patients from Monett and surrounding areas. “We are about an hour away from any specialist,” Dr. Roberts says. So the practice has invested in the technology to allow the doctors to provide a high level of medical care. “We have optomap, OCT, visual field and Marco TRS systems and try to keep up to date with technology. We co-manage patients with diabetes, macular degeneration and glaucoma.”
The practice also has two small satellite offices. Dr. Aubrey Roberts works one day a week in the Shell Knob satellite, while her husband and father-in-law each work a day a week in the Mt. Vernon satellite. That way, there are two doctors in the main office each day.
Despite their small size, the satellites are also fully equipped with the diagnostic technology of the main office. “Every day that I’m in Shell Knob, patients thank me for coming here. People can’t make the trip outside of these communities for care” she says, emphasizing the importance of accessibility for patients.
EXPANDED OPTICAL
Roberts Family Eyecare aims to provide a unique shopping experience for patients, offering a wider selection of eyewear than what can be found locally, including an expanded sunwear collection. “We’ve increased our sunwear. We added Maui Jim, doubled our Ray-Ban offerings and added multiple new pairs of sunwear. That’s not something we had a lot of before,” Dr. Roberts says. With a more comfortable shopping experience and more frames, the doctors and opticians can also emphasize the importance of a second pair of eyewear.
The remodel was a collaborative effort with Optometric Architects and Eye Designs, both of which helped bring Dr. Roberts’ vision to life. “I had a vision board. I’ve been planning this for two-and-a-half years,” she says.
So it’s been tremendously satisfying to see it come together as a comfortable and inviting workplace for the doctors and their dedicated. And the crowds at the grand reopening were effusive in their praise and gratitude for the investment in the community. “There was so much love and support in the room for the grand reopening,” she says.
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Facebook: Roberts Family Eyecare
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