NEWARK, N.J.—U.S.Vision Inc., a long-standing and leading optical retailer in the United States, has ceased all retail operations nationwide as of the end of May, VMAIL has learned. In a May 21 memo to all employees, Eric Bertrand, managing director of the investment company Lincoln Road Advisors Inc., which acquired U.S.Vision through the acquisition of its parent company, Refac Optical Group, in March 2021, informed team members of the immediate closing of all of its optical centers nationwide, including those at Meijer supercenters, JCPenney and Boscov’s department stores, as well as at freestanding locations. Bertrand confirmed the course of action in an exclusive conversation with VMAIL.
The memo acknowledges the suddenness and impact of the announcement. Closure dates for the locations, in which U.S.Vision operated licensed optical departments, were specified as May 21 for JCPenney, May 23 for Meijer and freestanding locations, and May 24 for Boscov’s locations. The memo also noted that Boscov’s, a family-owned department store chain with locations in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast as well as an e-commerce presence, will be taking over operations of its optical locations.
“We regret to inform you that U.S.Vision retail locations will cease operations,” stated the memo from Bertrand. “This decision was not made lightly, however after having an abrupt lease termination from JCPenney and consideration of the company’s financial and operational challenges, we have determined that this is the necessary course of action. There are many factors, outside of our control, that have contributed to this awful scenario.”
When reached by VMAIL, Jim Boscov, CEO of Boscov’s, confirmed that the store would be taking over operation of all the department store’s optical locations previously operated by U.S.Vision.
“While we’re not selling eyewear until we have everything in place, we are dispensing the work that was done, that was sold by U.S.Vision,” he told VMAIL. “It’s being delivered to us, and we are dispensing it to patients. In addition, where there are doctor’s offices, those doctors are currently seeing patients. Our goal is ultimately to build up and have an optical center at every store.”
A customer notice posted on the JCPenney website confirmed the closures: “Valued customers, after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close US Vision operations of JCPenney Optical locations effective immediately,” the notice read. “As a result, JCPenney Optical locations are no longer accepting new optical orders or appointments at this time. US Vision maintains order specific optical and prescription records and is directly completing your order.”
U.S.Vision, which had been founded in 1991, had also operated licensed optical departments within Army & Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) military exchanges that were taken over by National Vision earlier this year, Bertrand noted. In its first quarter 2026 report, National Vision noted the expanded relationship with AAFES that designated the company as the sole optical retail partner on AAFES bases in the U.S. The agreement, effective April 1 of this year, the report stated, adds 20 military stores and expands National Vision’s presence to 2 additional states.
In speaking with VMAIL, Bertrand pointed to a number of factors that be believes contributed to the closures, noting initial concerns beginning during the Covid pandemic, as well as increasing costs for labor, goods and materials, rising costs of gas impacting the overall bottom line, as well as tariffs and managed care challenges. “There were so many things going against you,” he said, advising that the company “had many conversations about the possibility of selling or other options.”
“All retail operations have ceased, and the company is in a wind-down process,” Bertrand said during the conversation. “All relationships are ceasing to exist, and we won’t have any operating business going forward. All outstanding orders are being worked on and shipped out direct to the customer.”
The 2025 VM Top 50 Optical Retailers report showed U.S.Vision as operating roughly 214 optical locations at the close of 2024 with reported revenue of $60.1 million, down from $75.6 in 2023, placing it in the No. 25 spot. The company declined to participate in the 2026 report.
Bertrand told VMAIL that approximately 90 to 95 U.S.Vision opticians and non-optician employees were affected by the closures, and that the company is currently working through how to best handle existing inventory. Any suppliers or those with outstanding business who need to reach the company going forward can email info@usvision.com, Bertrand said.
“We recognize the impact this announcement has on each of you and sincerely thank you for your hard work, dedication and commitment to our customers and company over the years,” Bertrand stated in the memo. “Without you all, the company could not have been in business for all of these years.”
VMAIL did not receive comment from JCPenney and Meijer as of press time.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to VMAIL for additional coverage.
