The Local Link, October Edition: Spotlight on Munson Opticians

There’s something special about our High Street - the mix of friendly faces, long-time locals, and businesses that have been part of the Brackley buzz for decades. This month, we had the absolute pleasure of popping in to visit one of our amazing neighbours - Munson Opticians.

If you’ve ever wandered past their familiar storefront, you will have seen one of Brackley’s most established local businesses - proudly serving our community since 1998!

We started The Local Link to shine a little extra light on our local legends - the small business owners who keep Brackley town centre alive and thriving. And trust us, Andrew’s story is one worth telling.

Andrew has been in the optical world for 40 years - four whole decades of helping people see the world a little more clearly! He first worked at Nelson Wingman, where the motto was simple: keep your customers happy and give them the best possible experience. That philosophy clearly stuck - because if you’ve ever stepped into Munson Opticians, you’ll know exactly what that feels like. The warm welcome, the personal touch, it’s all there.

The journey to opening Munson Opticians was a bit of an unexpected adventure. Andrew’s brother was working for a company that dealt with shop contents when one day he found out his boss hadn’t paid the rent. Instead of letting the space go to waste, his brother was offered the chance to take it over - and just like that, an opportunity was born.

At the time, Andrew was working at Boots in Oxford, but when the call came, he knew it was his moment. The first branch opened in Wallingford, followed soon after by the Brackley practice we all know and love today.

Although the Wallingford branch eventually closed due to high rents, Andrew kept his positive outlook. When we asked him about the ups and downs of running a business, he just smiled and said,

“Oh, there’s never any downs, really.”

That’s the Munson mindset.

Andrew’s dedication doesn’t stop at running a great local business. At 39 years old, he decided to go back to university to study Optometry full-time. Four years of study later, he came out qualified and even more passionate about improving the service he could offer his customers.

Fast forward to today, and he’s still learning - just four weeks ago, Andrew began his master’s degree! His next goal? Expanding services to include independent provider care, which means patients could soon access things like glaucoma checks right here in Brackley - without those long hospital trips.

After 27 years on the High Street, Munson Opticians isn’t just a business - it’s part of the fabric of Brackley. Andrew and his team have built something special: a place where every customer feels welcome, cared for, and seen (literally).

So, next time you’re walking down the High Street, stop by, say hi to Andrew and the team, and see why Munson Opticians has been trusted by locals for nearly three decades.

When you support a small business, you’re supporting the heart of our town - and that’s truly what The Local Link is all about.