There are two glass eye manufacturers still on Florida Avenue. They are both located in cinderblock machine shops that look abandoned. Spinelli Eye Works, LLC is painted blue. Old Man Spinelli keeps the paint fresh, painting it as soon as it starts to fade in the the sub-tropical sunlight. His building may not look like much but he is proud to own it outright.
Spinelli Eye Works, LLC does not have a sign, though the name is written in pencil on the mailbox next to the gated front door. Mr. Spinelli does not cater to the walk-in trade. He deals with the bespoke market. He is known for his attention to detail and verisimilitude.
Over the years Mr. Spinelli has crafted glass eyes for movie stars, statesmen, and captains of industry who are missing a natural eye. It is a niche market but there is good money to be made in glass eyes. If you need one, you want it to be a good one. Either that or you get an eyepatch at Rubenstiens'.
Mr. Spinelli employs two apprentices in the hope that the glass eye trade will continue in New Orleans for another generation.
There is one more installment to go…
Good one. Me,who loves words and took high school Latin,had to look up verisimilitude,just to be sure.