Valley Lighting and Home Décor celebrates grand reopening in Ansonia

ANSONIA — An iconic Valley business, lighting up people’s lives and homes for more than 50 years, celebrated its grand reopening Friday.

Several Valley dignitaries were on hand to cut the ribbon on the all-new Valley Lighting and Home Décor, http://www.valleyhomelighting.com/ located at 3 Chestnut St.

With its recent expansion in the works for the last 18 months, the store now boasts 27,000 square feet of space, making it Connecticut’s largest lighting and home decorating retailer, according to company President Frank Capasso.

The store’s roots began in 1963 as the Valley Electric Supply Co. downtown, where the focus was on supplying “all things electrical” to electricians, factories and homeowners. Through the years, a small lighting department was added to serve the needs of new homeowners.

Fast forward to Friday, when Capasso and his employees unveiled the “renewed, reimagined and remodeled” showroom, opening the door on a new chapter for the Valley mainstay.

“This could not have happened without our great team of people,” said Capasso. “We’re so happy to have this new phase done, and we’ve certainly got a lot of stuff for people to look at.”

The expansive showroom features an all-new floor plan that lends itself to easier shopping. New product vignettes include a nostalgic industrial/steam punk collection; an expanded crystal room; new outdoor and landscape lighting display; new mirror gallery, hundreds of energy-efficient LED bathroom lighting fixtures and a stunning Tiffany lighting collection.

The store now also boasts one of the largest displays of Tech lighting in the Northeast, according to Capasso, which features modern and decorative chandeliers, pendants and ceiling and wall fixtures that Capasso said are “coveted by interior decorators for their uniqueness and functionality.”

In addition to a wide and varied lighting collection, the store also has an expanded display of unique furniture, sophisticated décor and home accents, not to mention wooden hutches and media cabinets, end tables and occasional seating.

Capasso is also thrilled to offer a new line of functioning home automation products that allows users to control and program their home lighting on a smart phone from anywhere in the world.

Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell lauded Capasso and company for reinvesting in the community.

“You’re drawing patrons from all across the state as the largest lighting and home décor store in Connecticut,” said Purcell. “You’re a major magnet for this community. There’s so much energy happening in this city over the last year….Ansonia is recharged and it’s a credit to the business owners who are stepping up and continuing to invest and reinvest in the city.”

Mayor David Cassetti was thrilled to cut the ribbon to the store’s continued success.

“My family has always shopped here, and my home is completely illuminated with all your beautiful fixtures,” said Cassetti.

Joe and Diane Kloc of Stratford are fans of the store, and stopped by Friday to shop for a new chandelier for their dining room.

“It’s absolutely beautiful in here,” said Diane Kloc.

Joe Kloc added, “They have a great variety of things and everything is more modern … the place seems more upbeat.”

Greg Martin, the city’s director of constituent services, was thrilled the store now sells a local resident’s unique table lamps, crafted from vintage beer, whiskey and wine bottles. Creator Tom Myers, Jr. owns Bottle Craft by Tom www.bottlecraftbytom.com, and until now only sold the lamps online.

“We look forward to clients becoming part of the Valley Lighting and Valley Electric family,” Capasso added.