Owner Gary Iavarone plans a party for his Palmer Square clientele
By: Lauren Otis
For 10 years Gary Iavarone has served the designer eyewear needs of Princetonians as manager of Au Courant Opticians on Palmer Square. The experience has been such a pleasurable one that Mr. Iavarone is throwing a party for his clientele, people he considers "almost like family."
On November 18, about 250 by his estimation of these friends will help celebrate Au Courant’s 10 year anniversary which actually occurred on August 26 at a free catered open house at the store.
"The profit here is not only measured in dollars and cents, but by the good feelings that you receive," Mr. Iavarone said.
"We are pretty excited about the idea of being here in Palmer Square for 10 years," he said. Over the years, customers have ended up stopping by not just for luxury eyewear but simply to talk about politics or music or some other topic with him, according to Mr. Iavarone.
Mr. Iavarone said he knew the location and people were special when he witnessed his first holiday tree lighting at Palmer Square. "I travel a bit and I’ve been overseas and I’ve never seen anything like these people, just celebrating being together," he said.
Mr. Iavarone said he feels lucky to operate a store in such a vibrant town center location rather than at a mall. Of the other merchants nearby, he said, "we are more like neighbors than just occupying space next to each other." And Palmer Square Management has been great to work with as a landlord. "It is just a great place to do business," Mr. Iavarone said, adding "It’s been like a dream."

