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January 2022 by Woan Ni W.
hey Van ! Just got home and finally got the time to appreciate your help! I found Van's little pocket of the past due to a very helpful sign (apparently Chad's idea) on Sunset. I've popped in about 4 times and each time it was just a cool easy visit. Behind the very playful homage to the past it's clear that Van knows his stuff. I think it's a rare gift in this city to have a place to go to where someone not only gets the vibe but also the quality and continued longevity of what they're providing. I guess the word is authentic. I got these for production and Van accommodated amazingly to get them tinted exactly the shade I needed. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend a visit, even if it's only to have Chad recommend you Yoko Ono's non- screaming music. Thanks again Van!
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September 2021 by Kaitlyn O.
Amazing product, amazing owner! Van is so helpful and sourced the most amazing vintage sunglasses I've ever had!!
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February 2021 by Courtney B.
Gentlemen's Breakfast is my go-to for special gifts for my husband. Every time I visit the shop there is something new and cool. Van is always so helpful and friendly. Highly recommend.
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December 2020 by Arnold Rivas
Van de la Plante is a great guy and proprietor of eyewear. Hooked me up with a great pair of Persols to replace a bad pair of glasses I’ve had for a year.Great conversations, scotch, laid back atmosphere, what more can a guy ask? Highly recommended.Edit: getting my second pair of glasses in two years. I’ve stayed for the whisky and conversations. I’m glad he’s still here.
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January 2020 by Bobby H.
So my dog broke my GB glasses the other day & I brought them in to see if they could be fixed. Although they were damaged beyond repair, Van immediately replaced them with new frames for a sweet discount. Such an amazing collection of vintage frames and other doodads. If you need specs, go here. Most honest & generous optician I've met in LA.
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January 2020 by Ethan G.
If all shops selling things (glasses, lettuce, whiskey, paper clips, cars, anything) were like this, our society would be a MUCH better place. This isn't just going shopping, it's like becoming a member of a club, without the snobbery. Come here for great well-curated eyewear but be prepared to be treated like family.
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September 2019 by JL S.
OK so I am a woman who wasn't afraid to venture forward to meet and greet. I also have glasses needs. I had frames and had him do my glasses and tint them pinkish. So cool. I love them. He is a step into LA kitsch and I love the shop.
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December 2018 by Jeremy R.
Purchasing eyewear that suits my style can be a time-consuming challenge. Gentlemen's Breakfast makes it as painless as possible. As you step into the cozy, hunting lodge themed store Owner Van offers a warm greeting, asks what you're looking for, and even offers a splash of scotch as you select the right eyewear for you. Personally I've bought three pairs of eyewear from Gentlemen's Breakfast: the classic prison frames, a pair of vintage aviators, and a regular pair of 50's frames with the bottoms dipped in acid for a special two tone look. Coming here is always a special experience and I highly recommend Van and his team at Gentlemen's Breakfast for their kindness, hospitality, and humor. Go in and try on some eyewear!
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December 2018 by Rain Rivas
Reading your response, priceless. I have two pair of glasses from late 1940s that I bought at estate sale, would live to mail to you.
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December 2018 by Richard H.
Such a great place, he has been here almost 10 years and I just stopped in! I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in Echo Park.
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November 2018 by Garrett W.
This is one of the best experiences I have ever had in a shop, not only in Los Angeles, but in my life. Van (the store owner) made me feel like I was in another time, and not just because of his shop's aesthetic, but because he truly, deeply, and instinctively knows his craft in a way that only a man who truly cares can. In this place, there is not one shred of the flippant attitude or vibe I've come to expect in an LA retail space. Stepping into this shop felt like being invited into the store owners heart and mind. Based on one visit alone, I now know where I'll be getting (and maintaining) my glasses from here forward.
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September 2018 by Petros A.
Just stopped in to ask if there was a way to shorten the band on my watch. This is my first watch and a pretty cheap one so I didn't know if it was possible, but i thought it would be worth asking. After looking at it closely Van, who works here, said the watch was cheaply made so it's unable to make it shorter. He then suggested a simple solution of tightening the metallic band so it fits my wrist perfectly. He took out is tool kit and made the adjustment in under 5 minutes. Best part, he didn't even charge me. He was just happy to help! It's very clear that they know everything about watches here and the service i got was so friendly and helpful. I will absolutely return to buy some glasses or a watch in the future. ALSO ask him about his tyrannosaurus watch which actually has bones from a t-rex in it!
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July 2018 by Joe R.
Van is the man. Every visit is a joy. Every pair of glasses I bring home earn compliments for years on end. I am grateful they are in our neighborhood.
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July 2018 by Ixchel R.
The owner of this location was great! I took in my glasses to see if he could fix the arm of the frame. He was very honest in telling me that he could fix them but it was only going to work for a short time. Instead I ordered the same exact frame I had broken and he was able to place my lenses in the new frame. Again he could of just told me he could fix them and charged me for it but he was honest with me.
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May 2018 by Frank C.
this shop is full of hip sunglasses that would have made me look much cooler back when i was a kid. wife tells me that i need a pair to replace my blue blockers and for once i agree! (with her) van made me feel at home and he is attentive and patient with me while i explained the type of shades i was looking for. if you find yourself typing in for sunglasses on yahoo a lot, i suggest you look no further than this shop. also i do not suggest lens crafters because they were rude to me when i asked if i could watch some eye exams while i waited for my wife when she was shopping at the mall
