Chinook Optical

Chinook Optical Purveyors of Fine Eyewear since 1916. Located in the Britannia Shopping Plaza, Calgary, Alberta, Can Our business was founded by Dr. E.S. His son, B.J.S.

Tharp as Consolidated Optical, located in the Leeson & Lineham Block building (209 -8th Avenue SW) in 1916 in Calgary, Alberta. Tharp, became a doctor of Optometry after serving in the navy in WWII. He founded Chinook Optical in 1960 and now the next two generations are continuing the business. Chinook Optical is proud to be a small and independent business in Calgary, Alberta. The store was one of the original tenants in Chinook Center when the mall opened, yet for almost a decade now we have enjoyed our current location in the Britannia Shopping Plaza. We are proud of our history serving the Calgary community for more than 100 years and look forward to the next century of eyecare in our city. Our exceptional team of licensed opticians, students of opticianry and licensed doctors of optometry are continuing our tradition of excellence in health service.

We’re beyond excited to welcome Thom Browne toChinook Optical - a brand that consistently proves that staying true to y...
02/06/2026

We’re beyond excited to welcome Thom Browne to
Chinook Optical - a brand that consistently proves that staying true to your vision never goes out of style.
For years, Thom Browne has carved a unique place in
fashion by blending timeless heritage with thoughtful,
modern creativity and now that same dedication is
reflected in their eyewear.
Rather than follow the industry norm of licensing out
eyewear, Thom Browne brought the eyewear line completely in-house, taking full creative control to ensure every frame reflects the brand’s DNA.
Handcrafted with precision, designed with intention, and
made in collaboration with master artisans, Thom Browne
eyewear is not just an accessory it’s an elevated statement. The use of premium materials like titanium and Japanese acetate keeps every piece luxurious yet wearable, while signature brand elements make each pair unmistakably ‘Thom Browne.’
This drop isn’t just about gorgeous frames it’s about
celebrating brand authenticity and longevity. Just as
Chinook Optical has remained true to its values over decades, Thom Browne continues to uphold a vision that looks forward while honoring its roots.

No matter where in the city we’ve been located, one thing has always remained constant: the people.These photographs com...
02/04/2026

No matter where in the city we’ve been located, one thing has always remained constant: the people.
These photographs come from one of our many locations in the mall, a place we called home for more than 60 years. Within those walls, time moved quietly but meaningfully. Children came in holding a parent’s hand, and years later returned with families of their own. Faces became familiar. Conversations carried on across decades. What began as an appointment often grew into a multigenerational relationship. It has been a profound privilege to witness so many patients become more than clients, to be trusted not just with vision, but with moments of life in between.
Through every move, every chapter, Chinook Optical has held onto what matters most: care, quality
and genuine attention. We’ve been given the rare gift of becoming a destination not because of where we were located, but because of how people felt when they
walked through our doors.
Wherever we’ve been on the map, the feeling has stayed the same. And that is a legacy we take the most pride in, and will do our very best to continue.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome PRESS Eyewear to our store. From the very first frame, PRESS has been focused on...
01/30/2026

We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome PRESS Eyewear to our store. From the very first frame, PRESS has been focused on bold design, fearless style, and eyewear that feels like a statement, not just an accessory. Inspired by urban energy, attitude, and unapologetic confidence, PRESS blurs the line between fashion and function.

With vibrant + expressive colour, PRESS uses rich, custom-tinted Mazzucchelli bio-acetates that go
beyond classic palettes. Whether it’s deep jewel tones, layered crystal effects, or unexpected hues, the colour feels intentional, bold, and full of personality.
Many of their statement pieces are crafted from thick acetate, giving frames depth, dimension, and a beautifully substantial feel on the face.
Automotive-inspired metal design like The Streamline Collection channels the elegance and
precision of automotive form. Handcrafted from pure Japanese titanium with sculpted curves and
plated accents, these elements echo the streamlined grace of classic car design.
And the creative force behind it all? Jeff Press who has decades of experience building luxury eyewear.
So whether you’re after something sharp for daily wear or a standout piece that turns heads, we’ve got frames that really excite us in store for you to discover.

Some things can’t be manufactured.They’re earned over time. We’re incredibly lucky to have legacy clients who have trust...
01/28/2026

Some things can’t be manufactured.
They’re earned over time.
We’re incredibly lucky to have legacy clients who have trusted Chinook Optical with their eye
care + eyewear generation after generation. Clients who followed us from our longtime home
in the Chinook Centre mall, where we spent over 60 years, to where we are today, now 15+ years into our Britannia chapter. Families and clients who are
still walking through our doors, still choosing us.
As someone who has been shaped by a multigenerational optical family, this hits close to home.
It’s a privilege to be part of your stories and your lives, and one we take seriously. It’s also incredible to see how style, confidence, and individuality get passed down - sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly.
Eyewear has a way of connecting people. Across decades. Across tastes. Across generations.
{Maybe great style really is genetic in some cases…}
And if that’s the case, we’re honored to help bring it into focus one generation at a time.
•
Pictures - My Grandfather, Dr. Tharp (2nd gen.), in Calgary in the 1970s & my grandmother, Ada, in the late 1950s, who I call my Patron Saint of Style.

Sometimes all it takes is seeing something in a new light.Ideas don’t arrive late or early, sometimes they just arrive b...
01/26/2026

Sometimes all it takes is seeing something in a new light.
Ideas don’t arrive late or early, sometimes they just arrive before we’re ready to feel them. And then one day, they click. Suddenly, something from the past feels completely new
again.
That’s the beauty of eyewear.
There are no real trends here - just emotions, intuition, and how a frame makes you feel the
moment you put it on. No rules. No limitations.
This Paula frame from Lapima’s past collection did exactly that for me. It stopped me, sparked
something, and instantly made me excited to start the week.
Because great eyewear isn’t about what’s “in.”
It’s about what moves you.
Here’s to fresh perspectives, old favorites, and starting the week with feeling!

01/23/2026

At Chinook Optical, we don’t curate collections by accident, we curate them by conviction.
Danielle Rattray is the kind of brand that doesn’t shrink from its identity, it asserts it with clarity, craft, and style.
Born out of Scotland, shaped by the designer’s background in graphic arts, fashion, and
storytelling, each frame is a proposition - not a compromise. The bold lines and refined silhouettes
reflect an aesthetic that lives between art and attitude: where strength meets nuance and poise
meets presence. The collection speaks in confident proportions, unexpected angles, and material
integrity that doesn’t just look intentional, it feels that way.
These are frames designed for the independent spirit: fearless yet thoughtful, expressive without pretense. They are built for the person who wants their eyewear to signal something real about who they are. From the angular statement of the Jean to the sultry yet assertive personality of the Lowe, there is a precision in form and finish that rewards close inspection.
This is not eyewear that sits quietly in the background, it sits at the intersection of confidence and craft.
We brought Danielle Rattray into Chinook Optical because she embodies what we value:
design with resolve, details with intent, and presence without apology.
This is eyewear for the unapologetically stylish.
Now exclusively at our store.
Where conviction meets craft.

As we enter the new year, we’re stepping into a moment defined by movement, confidence, and renewal. This Lunar New Year...
01/21/2026

As we enter the new year, we’re stepping into a moment defined by movement, confidence, and renewal.

This Lunar New Year welcomes the Year of the Horse a symbol of forward motion,
independence, and energy. It feels fitting as we continue to build on 110 years of Chinook Optical, not by
standing still, but by evolving with renewed purpose.
For over a century, our focus has remained clear: exceptional eye care, thoughtful eyewear
curation, and helping each individual express who they are through what they wear and how they see. That
commitment continues now with fresh momentum.

This year, we’re excited to introduce new eyewear brands, continue to expand our perspectives, and invite
you deeper into the world of Chinook Optical behind the scenes, into the stories, the craftsmanship, and
the details that shape our selection.

The past built us.
The future motivates us.
Thank you for being part of the journey.

Here’s to moving forward together, through the next 110 years!

Anyone else obsessed with the new creative direction? I can’t get enough of their styling & can’t wait to see what come...
01/15/2026

Anyone else obsessed with the new creative direction? I can’t get enough of their styling & can’t wait to see what comes next. We’ve restocked some of the best pieces from the current collection, in store now.

Sweet dreams are made of glasses like this! Our shop lab has been creating the most spectacular custom tint jobs and I ...
01/11/2026

Sweet dreams are made of glasses like this! Our shop lab has been creating the most spectacular custom tint jobs and I couldn’t let this 1/1 frame go without sharing how beautiful the results are. Come look good with us this year! 🤓

Sweet dreams are made of glasses like this! Our lab has been creating the most spectacular custom tint jobs and I could...
01/11/2026

Sweet dreams are made of glasses like this! Our lab has been creating the most spectacular custom tint jobs and I couldn’t let this 1/1 frame go without sharing how beautiful the results are. Come look good with us this year! 🤓

We may have shared a first name, a love of style and arts and culture, but was truly part of the heartbeat of what make...
01/07/2026

We may have shared a first name, a love of style and arts and culture, but was truly part of the heartbeat of what makes Calgary great. May her legacy light the way for all who continue the work to improve it. Our hearts are broken with all who will miss her & we hope she’s found the peace she deserved all along. 🕊️

Address

813 49th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
T2S1G8

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+14032521961

Website

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