Houchens completes deal for Cohen's optical chain

Bowling Green, KY- Houchens Industries Inc. has acquired Cohen's Fashion Optical, Garden City, NY, parent company of a regional optical chain.

The Cohen's chain includes more than 100 stores in six Eastern states and Puerto Rico. Cohen's stores-in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New York-offer eye exams, prescription eyewear, contact lenses, and other items and services.

Houchens aims at building Cohen's into a national chain, said Spencer Coates, company president. "Our plans are to begin heavy recruitment of new franchisees . . . throughout the country," Coates said. He did not disclose terms of the Cohen acquisition, although he said it was a cash deal.

Robert Cohen, president of Cohen's Fashion Optical, said the deal marks a milestone in the company's 80-plus-year history. Cohen will stay on as president of the Cohen's division within Houchens.