The doors closed and locked on two Hermiston businesses Friday, but both will reopen together in a new location on Monday, Feb. 28.

The merger brings together two long-time city businesses, Lifetime Vision Source and Umatilla Vision Clinic. They will form a new vision center at 1160 E. Elm Ave., also called Lifetime Vision Source.

Were excited, Dr. David Drotzmann, Lifetime Vision Source owner, said Friday. This is a great opportunity.

Both former locations  Umatilla Vision Clinic was at 455 E. Main St.; Lifetime Vision Source has been a block away from the new location, in the Columbia Professional Plaza at 1060 W. Elm Ave. #135 for seven years are now closed. The new office will open for patients at 7 a.m. Monday.

Lifetime Vision Source services include both vision medical care and dispensing glasses and contact lenses, and construction on the new building has been going on since September. Drotzmann called the expansion a long-term investment in the community.

The new business brings expanded services, new technology and bilingual opportunities both with doctor and staff as well as frames and contacts to fit anyones budget, Drotzmann said. The new site will also feature expanded hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday hours will remain the same, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Patients from both businesses will be transfered to the merged site, and during the closure, phone numbers for both businesses will roll over to a voicemail system. Through the phone system, customers can either leave an emergency message or information asking to schedule an appointment.

The phone numbers are: Lifetime Vision Source, 541-567-6623; and Umatilla Vision Clinic, 541-567-0142.