About us

The history of Gesoura Optics dates back to 1935, when Elias Gesoura worked as a master optician at one of Athens' first specialty eyewear stores. His son Giorgos, having a great admiration for his father, fell in love with the trade from a young age and began learning everything his father knew. Starting at age 12, alongside his schooling, he worked alongside his father, learning the secrets of the craft.

As the years passed, Giorgos Gesoura's interest — who had always had a technical mindset — turned to frame manufacturing.

During the war and German occupation, when everything was difficult and raw materials were scarce, his youthful ingenuity led him to successfully manufacture eyeglass frames using celluloid from discarded film reels.

In 1945, he and his brother Angelos established a small initial frame manufacturing workshop in the Botanikos neighborhood, and they began promoting their products to contemporary eyewear stores, first in Athens and then across Greece. At first, the industry viewed the two young men with skepticism. But they quickly managed to enter the market and convince industry professionals of their product's quality.

Sometime around 1960, the small workshop was replaced by a full eyeglass frame manufacturing factory in the Nea Filadelfeia neighborhood. Many of the factory's machines were designed and built by him himself. It was there that Giorgos Gesoura truly dedicated his life to his work.

He famously said: " …it’s a great labor of love, I love breathing in the scent of the soaps, feeling the grease from the machines on my overalls. I love living and breathing inside this space…".

In 1978, alongside his factory, he also entered the retail sector, opening the store at 39 Panepistimiou Street.

A founding member and honorary president of ΣΟΟΝΑΝΕ, his name is inextricably linked to the history of the eyewear industry in Greece.

Now, the third generation — his daughters Katerina and Kelly Gesoura, both qualified opticians — continues the tradition at the "GESOURA OPTICS" store at 39 Panepistimiou Street.

The latest step in this journey was the launch of the e-shop, gesoura.com so that we can now serve you online as well.

Now that we’ve shared the story of our business with you, you know that we are not just "another" eyewear store. Every time you reach out to us, you have three generations of optometric experience and expertise at your service.

December 2020