Shady Rays is opening a new store in Louisville. Here's where

Kate Marijolovic, Louisville Courier Journal
Updated ·2 min read
Construction at Shady Rays' new location at Oxmoor Center, seen on July 27, 2023. The store will be opening on August 5.
Construction at Shady Rays' new location at Oxmoor Center, seen on July 27, 2023. The store will be opening on August 5.

A nationally known sunglasses company is finally opening a store near its old Kentucky home.

Shady Rays, based in Simpsonville, is currently wrapping up construction on a new store in Louisville's Oxmoor Center that's slated to open Aug. 5.

It will be the company's fifth store total and second in Kentucky, as well as its largest retail location in the country.

In celebration of its grand opening, Shady Rays will give away a free pair of mystery shades to the store's first 100 customers and will host drawings for prizes throughout the day.

A rending of Shady Rays at Louisville's Oxmoor Center. The store will be opening on August 5, 2023.
A rending of Shady Rays at Louisville's Oxmoor Center. The store will be opening on August 5, 2023.

Shady Rays sells sunglasses, snow goggles and UV-protective clothing meant to keep up with customers' outdoor activities without breaking their budgets. And the new store will offer a variety of products, including the new Green Wolf line designed for golfers.

The store will feature photo walls with pictures submitted by customers and influencers, as well as a timeline of the brand's history.

Another wall will let customers experience the difference between regular sunglasses and Shady Rays' patented Colorush lenses that enhance red, blue and green colors.

Construction is ongoing at Shady Rays' new location in Oxmoor Center. Seen here on July 27, 2023, the sunglasses chain's new store is expected to open on August 5.
Construction is ongoing at Shady Rays' new location in Oxmoor Center. Seen here on July 27, 2023, the sunglasses chain's new store is expected to open on August 5.

Chris Ratterman, the company's founder and CEO, said it's "surreal" to see the store get built. He started the business only a few miles from Oxmoor Center in 2012.

"It's pretty incredible to see it go up because this is the mall I shopped at as a child," he said, adding the company plans to hire around five associates for the new store.

Ratterman said his goal is for Shady Rays to become the "most-loved" brand of sunglasses in America.

The company plans to expand its physical footprint in the future, he said, but there are no concrete plans for additional stores at this time.

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Reach reporter Kate Marijolovic at kmarijolovic@gannett.com or on Twitter @kmarijolovic.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Shady Rays is opening a new sunglasses store in Louisville