We are standing in front of Harold’s Lamps in Wallingford. It was built in 1957, and it was first located in the spot now occupied by the Guild 45th’s second theater.
It moved to its present location at 1912 North 45th Street in the early 1960s. The owners are Kim and Cheryl Hansen. Kim started working in the store with his father, store founder Harold Hansen, some 30 years ago.
When you stand in front of Harold’s Lamps, you can hear cars going by, doors opening, people talking.
When you look inside you will see the beautiful illuminated ceiling fixtures, but that’s just the start. The store continues back from the street with rooms full of stock. There’s a lamp repair shop, a shade section and a workshop where the employees make light fixtures and shades.
Harold’s started out as a small shop selling inexpensive lamps, but as prices went up they stopped doing that and started making fancy lamps.
KIM: HIGH END LAMPS QUOTE, AND 100 DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS QUOTE
They now make many of the lamps they sell, right in the shop.
KIM: A LOT MORE THAN JUST RETAIL QUOTE.
If a broken lamp can be repaired, Harold’s will fix it. They also can make personal custom lamps out of almost anything.
Harold’s has always been a family business, and we wondered if Kim’s children still want to work in the family business. This is what he told us.
KIM: I HAVE TWO WORKING HERE ALREADY QUOTE
Harold’s Lamps has been a Wallingford institution for many years, and we hope it will continue to illuminate the neighborhood for years to come.