{"id":123469,"date":"2025-08-08T10:01:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T14:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=123469"},"modified":"2025-10-11T06:09:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T10:09:20","slug":"longe-celebrates-reopening-of-iconic-historical-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2025\/08\/08\/longe-celebrates-reopening-of-iconic-historical-location\/","title":{"rendered":"Longe celebrates reopening of iconic historical location"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The North Anthony Longe Optical. Courtesy photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Longe Optical is proud to announce the grand reopening of its historic North Anthony store location, which has undergone extensive renovations to better serve the Fort Wayne community.<\/p>\n

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News release from Surack Enterprises:<\/p>\n

Longe Optical Celebrates Grand Reopening of Iconic Historical Location<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Fort Wayne, Indiana (August 8, 2025) – Longe Optical is proud to announce the grand reopening of its historic North Anthony store location, which has undergone extensive renovations to better serve the Fort Wayne community.<\/p>\n

Joining Longe team members at Monday\u2019s ribbon cutting are councilman Geoff Paddock, councilman Russ Jehl, representatives from Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., and various community members who call the North Anthony Corridor home.<\/p>\n

General Manager Josh Quintana said, \u201cThis remodel was necessary to modernize our space while preserving the historic charm of our building. Customer needs and industry standards evolve over time, and Longe Optical is committed to meeting those needs with cutting-edge functionality, accessibility, and a welcoming atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renovations include upgraded exam technology, improved lighting, and a more streamlined store layout to improve both patient flow and the overall customer experience. Longe Optical also updated the location\u2019s interior finishes, enhanced its display shelves, and refreshed the exterior fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe remodeled space supports our commitment to quality eye care and positions us as a lasting part of this historic neighborhood\u2019s future,\u201d said Quintana.<\/p>\n

Proudly Serving Fort Wayne for Decades<\/strong><\/p>\n

Longe Optical\u2019s North Anthony store has proudly served Fort Wayne for more than 60 years, during which time, multiple generations of families have come to rely on this location for their vision care needs. The building itself is part of the historic fabric of the North Anthony Corridor; a district rooted in the early 20th-century City Beautiful movement.<\/p>\n

Former Longe owner and current long-time Longe employee Larry Kensill has faithfully served Longe Optical since 1958. During a recent interview, Kensill recalled his memories of founder E.J. Longe purchasing the North Anthony location in 1963. \u201cI watched this building being built over a year-and-a-half time period,\u201d he said. \u201cI talked with Mr. Longe. I said, \u2018Why don\u2019t we go out and look at that building? I think it would work out for both retail and the lab.\u2019 So, we came out the following day on our lunch hour, and he purchased the building.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe then went down and told his wife what he\u2019d done,\u201d Kensill added with a chuckle. \u201cThat\u2019s the way he always did things.\u201d<\/p>\n

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