About Us
J.C. Reiss Optician, New Jersey’s oldest independent optical establishment, could qualify as a state historical landmark. It first opened in Newark in 1892, moved to the Oranges in the forties, and is now headquartered in Morristown. In fact, on June 29, 2017, J.C. Reiss celebrated its 125th anniversary with a proclamation by the Town of Morristown declaring it “J.C. Reiss Optician Day.” Even after 125 years in the business of optics, J.C. Reiss continues to be at the forefront of the industry with the use of today’s latest technology.
Thomas Harrigan, having trained and worked at J.C. Reiss for over forty years, is the fourth-generation owner and chief licensed optician. Together, they have been serving several generations of families with quality eyewear made with precision by our expert opticians in our in-house finishing lab. This has built a relationship of trust and confidence in both service and workmanship that is unsurpassed by any other optical establishment.
The company has taken its promise of superior quality and service a step further by creating a separate children’s room with the largest selection of pediatric eyewear available in Morris County.
Our Team
Tom Harrigan
Owner, Optician (NJ LIC. D790)
Tom Harrigan began his career as an optician after serving in the Navy as an underwater demolition diver. Upon completing his schooling through the Veterans Administration, Tom began working at J.C. Reiss Optician, in Morristown, with third-generation owner Jack Reiss. As an apprentice optician, Tom was involved in all aspects of the optical field from frame buying and fittings, to lens grinding and the complete fabrication of a pair of glasses. Tom then attended Baylor College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, in Houston, Texas, where he received his certification in Contact Lens Technology. At that point, Tom began working with a number of ophthalmologists in Morristown specializing in the fitting and customization of hard contact lenses. These doctors included Anson Perina, MD, Blair Souloff, MD, and AJ Wishbow, MD. After a number of years working as an apprentice optician under Jack Reiss, Tom earned his ophthalmic dispensing license. He then purchased the business from the Reiss family, becoming the fourth generation owner and continues to run it to this day.
Tom has been a member of the Optician’s Association of New Jersey for several years. He is a past president of the Morristown Rotary Club, from whom he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award for outstanding service. He was a member of the Morristown Partnership for many years and continues his support for the community through sponsorships and donations to several local organizations.
Community
At J.C. Reiss, we believe in supporting our local community. Here are some of the organizations we support.
