Shop Cat: Mika of Art & Eyes

Providing stylish spectacles for 13 years, Art & Eyes is a high-end glasses store and fashion boutique filled with exquisite frames of all shapes, colors, and sizes. Giving “catwalk” a whole new meaning, you may see a fabulous feline strutting in the shop’s window when you stop by. This is Mika, a rescue from the Louisiana SPCA who loves her role as shopkeeper.

Mika is almost always stationed at the entryway or sunbathing in the front window, ready to greet eyewear enthusiasts as they arrive. She is also a great companion to those tagging along for a shopping trip, frequently hearing “I don’t usually like cats, but I really like this one!” After a full day of amusing visitors, Mika takes advantage of the quiet after hours by sleeping where she pleases, investigating empty boxes, and posing for people and pups passing by on Magazine Street.

Just as a frame surrounds a piece of artwork, glasses frame your face. The Art & Eyes team aims to help each customer put their best face forward by finding a pair of glasses that enhances their beauty and matches their personality. Just as one owns several pairs of shoes for various occasions, why not have an assortment of glasses? After all, first impressions are important!

“Our store is very different from most optical shops because we take the time to curate a beautiful collection to show to our clients,” shares owner Starr Hagenbring. “We have over 4,000 frames in the store at one time; each one of them is different. We don’t want you to walk down the street with a new frame on and see your best friend in the same thing. We deal with only independent makers.”

Whether you must wear prescription glasses or just like having a statement accessory, Art & Eyes is your destination for luxury lenses that complement your features. If you’re unsure what frames look best, Mika can give her opinion, but she may be biased toward the cat eye case.

Art & Eyes is located at 3708 Magazine Street

This article appeared in Adore’s October 2024 edition