A Great Vision Becomes A Reality

Capitol Lighting Now and Then

In 1924 a young Ethel Lebersfeld set out to fulfill a need. Lebersfeld had recently immigrated to the United States from Austria-Hungary with her husband (Max) and son (Arthur), and she was looking to redecorate her apartment in Newark, New Jersey.  On a quest to find affordable lighting and home furnishings, Ethel approached wholesalers, who told her that she had to be a retailer in order to buy from them.  So, Ethel came up with a brilliant idea:  She and Max, an electrical contractor, would open an electrical supply store and become retailers.

The seed for what would become one of the country’s largest upscale lighting and home-furnishing retailers was planted…

On January 24, 1924, in a little storefront on Prince Street in Newark, Ethel and Max opened Lebersfeld’s Electrical store.

Three years later, the Leberfeld’s relocated from the corner of Prince and Montgomery Streets in Newark to a 2,000 square foot space on Springfield Avenue, where Lebersfeld’s electrical store was officially named “Capitol Lighting.”

Arthur Lebersfeld followed in his parent’s footsteps.

Arthur’s sons and Capitol’s Co Chairman of the Board, Herman and Max Lebersfeld recall:   World War II was coming to an end, and Arthur started talking about expanding the business.  Arthur had a feeling that once the war was over, he would need a bigger store. “Many people told him not to expand, because there would be a recession after the war.  But dad believed that the millions of soldiers coming back would want homes and all the accessories that came with home ownership including fixtures and appliances.”

Young men were returning home from World War II and they were looking to furnish their homes—Capitol Lighting provided affordable home appliances and lighting to help satisfy those needs.

New Jersey homes from north to south were being beautified with top quality lighting designs, and customers were spreading the word about the outstanding selection of lighting and decorative accessories available at Capitol Lighting.

IN 1967, Capitol Lighting opened the largest lighting specialty store ever, becoming the top retailer of lighting in the United States.  Arthur’s vision had become a reality.

The store occupied 60,000 square feet in East Hanover, New Jersey. Capitol Lighting in East Hanover continues to be a central headquarters and stronghold of the company today.

Arthur insisted that “You had to have an attractive store, that lighting was decorative, not just functional, and that people should appreciate that what we sold would enhance their home,” Max Lebersfeld recounts.

In terms of how to do business:

“Most importantly, you have to deliver good service to the customer, have well-trained, competent salespeople—and the customer is always right!”–Arthur Lebersfeld

Providing top lighting designs and family-friendly service, Capitol’s award-winning lighting experts are gearing up to celebrate their  90^th Anniversary. With dedication to customer service and a commitment to provide quality lighting at the best prices, Capitol Lighting continues to serve with the fifth generation of Lebersfeld’s at the helm and eight lighting showrooms (four in New Jersey and four in Florida) and a worldwide website at 1800lighting.com.

Whether you are looking for energy-efficient LED landscape lighting and dark-sky compliant outdoor fixtures or a one-of-a-kind crystal chandelier, lighting professionals at Capitol strive to make your decorative vision a bright reality.

Capitol remains at the forefront of the lighting industry to bring you the latest products and lighting designs to renew your home or office space with excellent illumination for the utmost in comfort and style.

Thank you for letting us show you the light, for bringing us into your home and trusting us to illuminate all the precious things in your world.

 

We promise to continue to provide the best in service, quality, energy-efficiency and good taste to cater to your lighting needs for decades to come.  From the bottom of our hearts to the tops of our grandest chandeliers, we thank you for your decades of dedicated patronage.

What better to show our thanks, than to offer the most generous discounts on all the latest lighting and decorative home accessories?

Celebrate with Capitol Lighting:  October is  “Customer Appreciation Month.”  Let us continue to provide the ultimate in style and service…

• Shop in one of Capitol Lighting’s New Jersey or Florida showrooms and receive 10% off your entire purchase.

• Allow Capitol’s professional lighting consultants to help make your vision a bright reality;  Get a personalized lighting plan for your home or commercial space.