DALLAS—My Eyelab, a retail brand of Now Optics, said it will expand in the Austin and Dallas markets of Texas with the help of a trio of new franchisees. The company said the planned expansion follows a signed agreement from the end of 2020 with the three new franchisees who are looking to grow the brand in these two markets, according to an announcement this week. The franchisees, Arash Ghanbari, Victor Mankrious and Sameh Bekhit, plan to open eight locations over the next three years, with four offices in each market.

Their first location is set to open in Dallas in August, shortly followed by two more stores in Austin, according to the announcement.

These franchisees have a unique portfolio of experience, having worked in mechanical engineering, research and development, dentistry and entrepreneurship. Ghanbari and Mankrious are mechanical engineers, equipping them to handle operations and the financial aspects of running their My Eyelab locations, the announcement noted.

Additionally, Mankrious and his wife have owned and operated a small pharmacy for the past five years. Bekhit is a dentist who owns and operates multiple dental practices. With this background in small business ownership, he will lead oversight of the operations, according to My Eyelab.

“Growing the My Eyelab brand in Dallas and Austin is an honor, since we will have the opportunity to help the community by providing excellent eyecare products and services,” Ghanbari said. “We are looking forward to this opportunity to expand our portfolios and take a deep dive into the world of franchising with My Eyelab. This brand has an incredibly strong business approach that’s proven to work throughout the pandemic for plenty of franchisees, which is why we feel so confident in our pursuit.”

Added Makrious, “We are excited to be joining a brand that’s demonstrated great economic power, focus on technological innovation and customer service. Through telehealth, we’re able to provide better, comfortable quality service to our customers and make ourselves more readily available to their needs. This is a future-forward brand sitting at the forefront of telemedicine, and we believe this is what will set us up for optimal success.”

The Now Optics’ retail brands, My Eyelab and Stanton Optical, are among the nation’s fastest-growing, retail eyecare centers, and the company continues to expand its retail footprint with over 200 corporate and franchise locations in 28 states.

My Eyelab ranked No. 3 on the recent Entrepreneur Magazine annual Top New Franchises and Fastest-Growing Franchises lists, as VMAIL reported.

For more information about My Eyelab, visit www.myeyelab.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit www.myeyelabfranchise.com or send an email to John Bonewell at jbonewell@myeyelab.com, Craig Garwood at cgarwood@myeyelab.com or by calling (561) 800-4868.