Our History
Connecticut Lighting Centers was established in 1972 in Hartford, CT by Arthur Director along with a staff of six employees. The store was the first in the area to promote the “lighting center” concept – a store solely committed to the sale of lighting fixtures, decorative tables, floor lamps, paddle fans, and accessories.
David Director standing with his late father, Art Director and late mother, Edythe Director.
Connecticut Lighting Centers has a proud history of growth and achievement and today boasts the state’s largest display of lighting, decorative hardware, ceiling fans and accessories representing most major brands in the industry. In fact, Connecticut Lighting Centers is one of the largest independent lighting stores in the United States. The store serves both the residential and commercial markets, not only in Connecticut, but throughout the world.
Connecticut Lighting Centers is a family-owned and operated business in its 3rd generation with Todd Director as President and Brett Director as Vice President. The Director family, along with the entire management staff, is dedicated to upholding the highest standards for service and providing customers with the most up-to-date lighting techniques and designs from around the world at competitive prices.
In 1994, Connecticut Lighting Centers opened a branch store in Plainville, CT. In 1999 due to consistent growth, the branch store moved to a much larger facility in Southington, where it now resides. Although a smaller facility than the main store, it has a large showroom and warehouse facility.
In 2003 Connecticut Lighting Centers bought a 23,000 square foot warehouse facility to be its main distribution center for all it’s different enterprises. This building also houses approximately 2,000 square feet of office space.
A new chapter in our history began in 2006 with the opening of Restoration Lighting Gallery. Restoration Lighting Gallery, located across the street from our main location, is considered the gourmet shop of our lighting and accessory business. The store emphasizes lamp shades, repair and restoration work and displays unique and, in many cases, one-of-a-kind lighting. A new concept in the industry, done at a level no one in the country has done before.
In 2017 we moved our Southington showroom from 235 Queen Street to a bigger and better Showroom at 50 Graham Place.
Since 2006 Connecticut Lighting Centers operated out of 3 building in Hartford. In 2022 we moved just a stones trough away to 312 Murphy Rd. Now Connecticut Lighting Centers Hartford Showroom our Corporate Headquarters, Restoration Lighting Gallery and our Distribution Center are now all under one roof. Now we have 2 amazing State of the Art Showrooms in Hartford and Southington.