Our Story

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED Chap’el Eyewear has been a family owned and operated business since 1984. Chappy & Elsie Moore (Chap & El), both Catholic School teachers with a young son Billy, were looking for a way to make extra money over the summer break to supplement their modest teacher salaries. Initially, Chappy and Elsie began selling many items at local flea markets and craft fairs including watches, stock paintings in custom frames, suncatcher stained glass and stuffed animals. Getting up at 5am with a young son Billy and dragging him to flea markets within 2 hours of their home was a challenge. They thought there must be a better way to sell more volume and thought sunglasses may be a way to do that. With only a single case of sunglasses (25 dozen) in stock, Chappy drove to the world famous New Jersey Shore and began going in and out of the beach shops trying to sell quality sunglasses at a reasonable price.