Optiker am Dom, Mainz

Optiker am Dom is a newly refitted store in Mainz, Germany – with an impressive interior, designed to feel modern and welcoming

Located in Mainz in Germany, Optiker am Dom was first founded many decades ago; in March 2013 the current owners took it over. “The state capital of Rheinland Pfalz with just over 200,000 inhabitants is very lively,” explains master optician/owner Angela Dürlich. “Our location is in the shadow of the cathedral with lots of life, the weekly market, carnival, a love of wine in the region and many festivals right in front of our 13m-wide shop window. When we took over the shop originally in 2013, we completely redesigned it. We designed it with my father (a carpenter), we brought more light into the interior, and a long oak table was created for a feel-good atmosphere; we added light colours and wood to make it inviting for everyone.”

In 2013, the store started out with a team of three, the optician owners, Angela and David Dürlich and one employee. “David and I met at the master’s school in Cologne,” says Angela…”we gained experience after the exam and in 2012 we wanted to use that in our own shop. We took over the optician in Mainz with one employee, Ms. Karin Peyk, a state-certified optician and master optician. Over the years we have been able to grow steadily and our team has expanded to include many wonderful colleagues.” Above: Optiker am Dom interior: everything has been taken into account, from the design of the eye test area to the frame displays. The store features large open glass elements, natural oak, and furniture that has been thought through right down to the last detail; the appearance from the outside was designed to “arouse curiosity”

Stunning interior details at Optiker am Dom

In 2024, the store has been refitted and redesigned for the second time. “We worked with Möbel und Raum from the Odenwald. (https://moebelundraum.de/). “We very much wanted the cozy feeling of our store to be retained, and to make sure it was a welcoming place to come into; it’s also ideal to invite people to stay a while, so we created a proper area for serving coffee right in the entrance, and integrated a fridge full of wine – which makes it possible to drink a good, cozy glass of wine at the weekend. A sofa was designed in the shop window, each shop window was framed in warm oak.” Interesting materials and fabrics create a particular style in the store. “The contrasting surfaces include thick corduroy, warm stone and matt wood. All these things contribute to the pleasant living-room feeling that you experience as soon as you enter. The right decoration and the smell of delicious coffee do the rest!”

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Optiker am Dom specialises in independent labels which currently include Andy Wolf, HUG, Coblens, Ahlem, Lazare Studio and many more. They choose to work with eyewear designers who take care about their materials and design language and are passionate about the subject of glasses. Quality is always a key factor: “We want to maintain quality at a time when more and more chain stores are setting up shop in cities. “In terms of the work we do, I suppose it’s not just about having a feel for the right glasses, but also about understanding the character of the person. We will find you a favourite pair of glasses through our passion, enthusiasm and honest approach. A precise high-quality eye examination and high-quality service also for the lenses are a matter of course for us”.

Asked about their goals going forward for 2025, Angela and David Dürlich continue to focus on quality and their professional service: “We are always aiming to maintain our high level of quality and customer care, and to continue to give our customers professional advice. Our goal is not to retain as many customers as possible, but to accompany and be there for our customers over a long period of time. If they recommend us because they are satisfied with the advice and the products, the comfort and the atmosphere we provide, then all the better!”

Optiker am Dom, Liebfrauenplatz 10, 55116 Mainz, Germany – www.optikeramdom.de