These Shades Will Be a No-Show

Sunglass maker Arnette Optic Illusions Inc. normally doesn’t rent space at ASR.

This year, however, the San Clemente company had signed on as a sponsor and reserved space on the first floor, ASR’s Overin said. But after Arnette was purchased by the Italian company Luxottica Group last year, it pulled out, he said.

Perhaps the timing wouldn’t have been that great anyway. The company has been in transition, with a number of employees leaving, including founder Greg Arnette, who retired this month at the age of 48.

It might have been hard fielding questions such as: “Where is Greg? Why isn’t he here?” Overin said.

Arnette, who once designed sunglasses for Oakley, launched his own company in 1992 and sold it to New York-based Bausch & Lomb four years later for close to $100 million. Bausch & Lomb sold its sunglass business--which included the Ray-Ban brand--to Luxottica in April.

Greg Arnette, by the way, has said he stepped down to spend more time playing.