Moscot was founded in 1915 by Hyman Moscot in New York City.
The company began when Hyman Moscot sold eyeglasses from a pushcart on Manhattan’s Orchard Street. His son Sol later helped establish the first permanent shop, and the business remained closely associated with the Lower East Side.
Moscot is both an eyewear retailer and a brand producing optical frames and sunglasses. Its recognizable styles often draw on vintage American eyewear, which can lead to confusion with independent retro-inspired brands.
The company is still family-operated, with later generations involved in its management. Its history makes it one of the oldest continuously operating optical businesses in the United States.