The French luxury company purchasing Peoria's Maui Jim eyewear says they plan to maintain a Central Illinois presence.
A spokesperson for Kering Eyewear sad the company will continue to operate per "business as usual." The spokesperson said there are no plans to relocate Maui Jim's offices or main functions.
The Maui Jim labs will be kept intact and potentially expanded in the medium term, the spokesperson said.
Maui Jim was founded in 1987. It was the largest independently-owned high-end eyewear company prior to the acquisition announcement. Kering also owns several luxury brands, including Gucci.
Maui Jim employs about 500 people in the Peoria area, with additional locations in Hawaii, Canada, and Germany.
The acquisition is expected to close later this year.
