University Lights

Located in Durham, North Carolina

Address: 5200 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707, United States

Phone: +1 919-489-8583

Rating: 4.8

Services

Kerbside pickup
In-store pick-up
In-store shopping
On-site services
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Assembly service
Repair services
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Cheques
Credit cards
Debit cards
Credit cards

Photos

Latest Fire Recovery & Restoration Services

Comments

Review 1 (2024-12-31 - Rating: 5)
Prices are routinely much less than those offered online, sometimes as much as half. Customer service is excellent; Kirk is old-school (in a favorable way) in his courteousness and attentiveness.They stand behind their products and are trustworthy. For example, I purchased a chandelier but didnt closely inspect it (totally, my fault) until we were ready to install it a month or two later. When I found the quality lacking, Kirk offered full store credit without a moments hesitation and honored that credit--again, with no hesitation--possibly two years later(!) when I finally found a satisfactory replacement item.Only limitation is that they carry a limited number of brands unlike the massive websites that carry everything. Nevertheless, I cant recommend enough.

Review 2 (2024-10-07 - Rating: 5)
Exceptional customer service! I don’t often leave reviews, but I have been so impressed with my experience at University Lights in Durham and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them to others! The staff are very friendly, but not at all pushy, and I have popped in many times to just look around and get ideas. While they always have an extensive product selection on display, their team is also at the ready with additional selections from catalogs and online sources. From pointing me to lines that complement my design aesthetic, to determining the proper size/scale, lighting strength and temperature considerations (and airflow, in the case of fans) they were invaluable at all stages of my projects. When I wasn’t sure about some of my needs and preferences, they provided options and happily accepted returns. Thank you Kirk and Jay for all the guidance and support, we are extremely happy with the results!

Review 3 (2024-12-29 - Rating: 5)
University Lights saved the day! I arrived late, at closing time, and they helped me find an incandescent bulb to replace in my lava lamp. Thank you for your great customer service!

Review 4 (2024-04-05 - Rating: 5)
Great company! Kirk was super knowledgeable and kind. We ordered 4 pendant lights by Capital Lighting, good quality and very classy. In stock so we will have them in our home next week!

Review 5 (2019-09-10 - Rating: 5)
Kirk was awesome! This review is very overdue, but i was waiting until i had some better photos to post. We renovated our entire house and needed new lighting for most rooms including bathrooms, bedrooms, dining room, hallways and kitchen.Kirk was very patient, not pushy and sat with us to look through many magazines and hundreds, if not thousands of light fixtures to make sure our selections were complementary.He made the whole process painless and gave us better deals than anywhere we could find (I price check everything.)They are a family run business- honest, local and hardworking. Couldn’t recommend them more!(have both before and after photos below)

Review 6 (2024-07-16 - Rating: 5)
Locally-owned shop with fantastic service and a beautiful selection. I am thrilled that I found this store! I have an antique, free-standing lamp that has sentimental value that they were able to replace the cord for. Not many places will replace cords since we live in a dispose and replace society. I foster bunnies and even with cord covers I had a persistent bunny that chewed through the cover and through the cord. The University Lights team was able to replace it at a low cost. A year or two later I had another determined bunny that removed the new different cord cover and chewed through the cord! The attendant recognized me and said he would think through how to have a permanent fix. I didnt think much of it, but when they called me for the pick up he said he attached a steel cover that extended across the whole cord! It was time-consuming but I wasnt even charged extra for this service and the cord replacement itself was very inexpensive! I was awestruck with the intentionality, determination, and care they took for my lamp! This is a reminder of why I like going to small local shops, because the service is unmatched! I was so touched that they made my problem into their problem and found a solution for me at their own expense! I thank you and the bunnies thank you. :) HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Go and support this family-owned business!

Review 7 (2024-06-14 - Rating: 5)
Greg at University Lights patiently reviewed a range of catalogues with us until we had chosen three hanging lamps for our kitchen. In the meantime Jay examined another of our fixtures, said to be irreparable, and took it into his shop and repaired it. The new fixtures have been installed over the counter and they are beautiful, particularly because they match the set over the table we thought would have to be replaced. This outfit takes extra care with their customers and they know what they are about. The best around.

Review 8 (2024-08-09 - Rating: 5)
We showed up with no appointment or plan on a BUSY Friday afternoon and were SO well taken-care-of by each of the staff present that day. Brian was an absolute pleasure. He helped us pick out a couple of great fans without pretense or pressure. It really is such a treat to find salespeople who are sincere and pleasant and humorous. The same can be said for Jay who met with us the following week on a less-busy day to pick out lighting for our bathroom reno. He was candid and kind and incredibly knowledgeable -- what more can you ask for? Go see them.And make an appointment for everyones sake.

Review 9 (2024-02-13 - Rating: 5)
This lovely local shop not only sells beautiful high end lighting at excellent prices, they will also carefully repair your own lamps in a very timely manner. I recently had my third lamp repaired at this shop and it was my best experience yet. Kirk took the time to explain exactly what they had done and helped me switch to an energy efficient lightbulb, which he then kindly discounted! If you need help navigating the new rules about lightbulbs without sacrificing ambience, this is your place. Don’t throw away that old lamp you love because it’s not working. Bring it in to this shop and support a local business at the same time. That’s a win-win. Thanks again Kirk!

Review 10 (2021-03-23 - Rating: 5)
See that GLOBE light behind the red chair. Universal Lights looked at this very old lamp post and said, lets see what we can do. Jake spotted this wonderful glass globe in the back, and i knew this is what i wanted. I wondered if this could be done. Well they really exceeded what i thought they would do. All this was done in 3 days or so,and quite professionally.They were as happy as i was with their engineering feat (but oh so simple and cool. I just love it. Many thanks. They are fun, professional and the price was fair. Thank you so much.

Review 11 (2021-02-17 - Rating: 5)
Great prices and selections. Go and brows and of your interested make an appointment so you dont make any mistakes. Love the wood grain on this fan.

Review 12 (2024-03-17 - Rating: 5)
Next time I am in the market for lights or fans, I shall certainly check here. Brian has impressed me with his knowledge especially of the industry standard Hunter Original ceiling fan. Great brick and mortar showroom!

Review 13 (2023-03-18 - Rating: 5)
Kirk and the University Lights Team were fantastic. They helped design a lighting solution, identified the best fixtures, and recommended a terrific electrician. Kirk was very accommodating and provided modifications during installation. Highly recommended and trusted.

Review 14 (2019-04-11 - Rating: 5)
Excellent products, and outstanding customer service. Our light fixture failed after three years, and they were able to track down the manufactures warranty and order the replacement parts under warranty. During this process we discovered that we had paid about $300 more for the fixture from here then if we had purchased it online. But because of the customer service and they provided, I am happy to have paid the difference do you have the benefits of the knowledge and expertise . Without that, I would probably have to spend yet another thousand dollars to replace the fixture itself. Good people to deal with.!

Review 15 (2022-07-10 - Rating: 5)
Ive worked with the people at University Lights often over the years. For our most recent home, Emily was relentless in looking for replacement crystals for a chandelier and a just right ceiling fixture for the kitchen; and Jay was gracious in replacing a screened porch fan that had a defect toward the end of the first year. He replaced it with one that was a better fan and in stock in the store -- a great benefit to us since we enjoy the porch nearly daily and would have very frustrated to have to wait for ordering, supply chain issues, etc. Many thanks to you all!!!

Review 16 (2019-01-19 - Rating: 5)
My husband and I have used University Lights for three renovation projects so far, and we intend to return for more. All the products we’ve purchased from them are quality products, and they always go out of their way to help us achieve the results we want. The first time I visited the store they gave me a thick catalog to take home with me, and we have been using it for our product selection ever since. One time we needed a ceiling light to go with a collection that was not in their catalog, and they obtained it for us anyway. Recently we purchased a vanity light fixture that was not as bright as we expected, so Kirk patiently did everything he could to help us find alternative bulbs. We ended up replacing the light (with another beautiful light from University Lights, of course), and Kirk arranged for us to get partially reimbursed for the original light, even though it was no longer in the original box. The staff as University Lights will go beyond standard procedures to accommodate their customers and insure their satisfaction.

Review 17 (2020-01-08 - Rating: 5)
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!I will admit that I typically only give a review when I’m unhappy with a product or service. In this case, I felt a need to go online to brag about University Lights and give them the recognition they so rightly deserve!My husband is an architect and needless to say when it came to lighting, we had numerous resources available to us online. However, I’m a visual person and University Lights has a great showroom of traditional AND contemporary lighting (which is what we wanted). They also had catalogs of every brand on the market at your fingertips. They spent HOURS with me to help me pick out every light and fan for our house! Not only did they match my prices but when we had a couple of issues with the product, they contacted the manufacturers and made everything right on my behalf. They treated me like family every time I walked in and their product knowledge was critical. I would have made NUMEROUS mistakes ordering these lights online and would never have known what was available to me without their guidance. We built a new home and filled the entire house with lights from University Lights! Their attention to detail and customer commitment is a breath of fresh air! They are local and they are awesome! I will never go anywhere else for lighting issues in the future.

Review 18 (2019-03-31 - Rating: 5)
This is the best lighting store I have ever been to. The staff here are very pleasant, polite, and knowledgeable. They made me feel right at home. They are such great people to deal with; very attentive to detail, and their knowledge in design is truly one-of-a-kind. All around great lighting and fan selections. I definitely recommend them for any lighting needs.

Review 19 (2019-10-18 - Rating: 5)
For years, University Lights in Durham has been my go to for all electric needs: indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. I cannot say enough good things about Kirk Chandler, the rest of the staff, and products. Not only do I get exemplary service but they stand behind their products. So easy to work with these friendly folks!

Review 20 (2023-04-06 - Rating: 5)
The folks here are amazing. So helpful, kind and patient as we went back and forth on our decisions. Love that it’s a family business- their 3rd generation, Kirk, helped us immensely. Prices were good as well. Quality way above hardware stores!

Review 21 (2019-06-20 - Rating: 5)
Adrian, Kirk and Kevin were all great to work with and had very high professionalism and courtesy. They replaced every light in my house and it all came out looking great and was fairly priced. They recommended a professional, reasonably priced electrician to install everything. I really cant say enough good things about their products and their service.

Review 22 (2021-04-23 - Rating: 5)
Outstanding service! Kirk guided us through fixture selection, track lighting design, and several rounds of trying out new light bulbs. Through every step, he was friendly, helpful and patient. He made the whole process much easier than it could have been. We highly recommend working with Kirk at University Lights.

Review 23 (2020-12-26 - Rating: 5)
An exceptional business. Customer service is beyond amazing. They answer your questions, they dont hurry you, and they know what theyre doing. And they do this while keeping their prices comparable to the big box stores. ( PS: I first went to University Lights 32 years ago when I got married, bought a house and renovated it with my wife. Ive been going ever since. Thank you, University Lights.)

Review 24 (2019-06-14 - Rating: 5)
I have taken several lamps for repair to this store and bought special light bulbs there. Service has always been helpful and friendly. Repairs are ready quickly. However, yesterday the service I received was above and beyond. I brought in a favorite floor lamp that had stopped working. He carried it in from my car, spent a few minutes determining the problem, took it in the back for about ten minutes to make the repair, and charged me nothing! I am was impressed by this level of courtesy and kindness that I had to write a review. Thank you, University Lights!

Review 25 (2018-05-08 - Rating: 5)
This store is such a fantastic resource for lighting in the Durham area. Three times now they have come to our rescue when we needed help with lights - first when a particular part of a ceiling fan broke, then when our very expensive table lamp broke, and then today when I was having a ton of trouble putting together a ceiling fixture. Each time University Lights expertly and quickly fixed our lights/fan. This store is also a fantastic place to go if you want to browse lighting for a bigger project, like new pendants or lighting scheme for your home - they have tons of great ceiling lights up and a lot of great options and input - I highly recommend this business!

Review 26 (2018-06-02 - Rating: 5)
We have been working with University Lights since moving to Durham over 30 years ago. They have been wonderful in helping chose the right fixture for each one of our needs. Further they have been helpful in finding all the parts we need to update older fixtures with a new look. Their prices are comparable and the service is exceptional.

Review 27 (2019-08-05 - Rating: 5)
Kirk was exceptionally helpful to us as we went about our remodeling from a distance. He made pertinent suggestions after hearing our detailed descriptions of how our apartment is laid out. We are so pleased with the results - light fixtures and fans! He even found a glass shade for our bald torchiere!!

Review 28 (2019-09-17 - Rating: 5)
University Lights is a great local source for light repair. We recently dropped off a floor lamp that had a broken pivot at the light bulb socket. They repaired it within 24 hours for a reasonable fee ($25 in our case). We also get spare bulbs for our track lighting here.The store is easy to get to. They have their own traffic light off of 15-501.

Review 29 (2018-09-22 - Rating: 5)
All the staff seemed friendly and helpful, but Sydney was my shining star! Self admittedly, I was a hot mess. I had very strong opinions about the aesthetics that I wanted, and zero clue how to obtain them. I barraged her with questions, I sent her checking catalogs and websites, I had her show me a million things and she even gave me little tutorials. Yet, she was unflappable. Not only was she PATIENT with me and my incredible ignorance, she was FUNNY! She took what could have been an enormously stressful, time-sensitive shopping endeavor, and turned it into an informative hangout. (?!) Truly remarkable.Lastly- while they do have a wide variety of very affordable lighting options, their selection is *not* the garbage that I saw in Lowe’s and Home Depot.I could not be more happy with the kind and professional service I received here. Absolutely grateful to have this place with its old-school, knowledgeable, courteous staff nearby!

Review 30 (2019-06-16 - Rating: 5)
Outstanding customer service and extremely knowledgable. All staff are helpful, courteous, patient and respectful. Kirk Chandler is exceptional. He had my best interest at heart and went well beyond expectations to solve a lighting problem I had. He saved me time and money. Without reservation I recommend University Lights.

Review 31 (2018-05-16 - Rating: 5)
When you want your house to look special and not the same old lamps and fixtures from Lowes and Home Depot that everyone else has come to University Lights. They give great personal service. Recently they got me a ceiling light fixture they no longer carried. The owners and staff are very personable, customer oriented and go the extra mile to leave you satisfied. I highly recommend them for all your lighting needs.

Review 32 (2019-09-18 - Rating: 5)
What was more important to me was that the person who helped me very kindly validated my need for assistance. If businesses could understand that it is not ONLY the service and money exchange that matters to the customer, it is the meaning behind the exchange. For example: If the store employee briskly took the lamp, repaired it, and charged me without any indication of friendliness, I wouldn’t care one way or the other whether I came back or not. However, the kindness and good business practice exhibited during my last visit compels me to return to purchase a lamp that I noticed. I feel as though this would be an honest place to do business. I had an inexpensive lamp that needed minor repair. I had previously taken the lamp to several lighting places for repair and was dismissed because the lamp was not “important” enough to be repaired or the repair was such a minor repair they could not justify the charge. I finally took it to University Lights hoping to at least be instructed on how to repair the lamp. The young gentleman took a look at the lamp and said this would just take a second. He quickly came back with a replacement part in place of the broken part, and with a big smile on his face told me that he would not charge for helping me out. I would have been happy to pay but he insisted that he was glad to help out and the part he replaced was nominal and only took a second to replace.

Review 33 (2018-08-31 - Rating: 5)
University Lights in Durham has gained our trust over the years. We had not been there for awhile when we asked their help purchasing two custom ceiling fans. They found a way for us to get exactly what we wanted, including painting one part of each fan themselves. Furthermore, on the day our electricians were installing the fans, we discovered that we had specified the wrong pole lengths for both fans. University Lights was able to find suitable replacements while our electricians were still there.That is real service! Special kudos to Kirk and Jay Chandler.

Review 34 (2018-04-10 - Rating: 5)
This company is a phenomenal place to start a home renovation project or a new home build. Considering they carry most major brands of both lighting and fans, they also have very knowledgeable staff that are experts in all aspects of lighting, plus their designer opinions are key to making a room turn from a standard complacent area to an inspiring form of art. I will definitely recommend them for years to come.

Review 35 (2016-12-28 - Rating: 5)
This lighting company is very helpful and service oriented.d We bought some lighting from them early in 2015. We had an issue with one of the track lights and they changed it out-no questions asked and also helped me select the proper bulbs for some of my other lamps. they have a service-focused approach and are very nice to work with and their prices are competitive. I will continue to use them for any lighting needs we have....Don Skiba

Review 36 (2021-08-21 - Rating: 5)
I took my lamp in to have repaired. Emily was very helpful. She came to the door to help me in and out. Jake did a great job in repairing my lamp. He didnt charge me a arm and a leg either. Just $20.00 and I am back in the saddle again. Many thanks to the staff. I appreciate you.

Review 37 (2020-12-31 - Rating: 5)
My experience at University Lights on a rainy NewYears Eve was outstanding. Kirk quickly and carefully fixed my electrically disabled lamp, treated me with respect and made my family happy. I hope Kirk’s 6 year old child knows what a fine father she has. Peace, Dale

Review 38 (2020-01-13 - Rating: 5)
I took my unique Italian modern lamp in for a repair and Curt was able to easily fix a problem I thought was unsolvable— within a day. If I were in the market for new lighting, this would be my go to store- wide range of styles and types plus really nice people.

Review 39 (2018-07-06 - Rating: 5)
Excellent product selection and superb customer service (from Kirk) both over the phone and in person! We were even able to discuss design options with Adrain and plan to use him for future projects. I would highly recommend this store to contractors and retail customers!

Review 40 (2024-09-25 - Rating: 5)
Just had an amazing experience with some of the nicest people at University lighting. Very customer focused and knowledgeable about all your Lighting needs

Review 41 (2024-04-05 - Rating: 5)
Great showroom! Kirk was more than helpful and very knowledgeable about the products he sells. Very clean.

Review 42 (2019-03-19 - Rating: 5)
Sydney went above and beyond to help me find replacement shades for a vintage vanity piece. The entire staff is pleasant and helpful. They understand simple and kind customer service. I highly recommend giving them your business.

Review 43 (2020-11-30 - Rating: 5)
I took our 40 year old lamp to University Lights to be repaired. It was in bad shape. When I got the lamp back, it was like new, and performed beautifully. Thanks to the staff for a job well done.

Review 44 (2020-02-25 - Rating: 5)
We just stopped in to get some inspiration for lighting for a new dining room. We were pleasantly surprised by the inventory and the prices. They have high end to very reasonable items. AND we found the perfect light!

Review 45 (2024-06-22 - Rating: 5)
Great staff! Brian and Kirk are very knowledgeable and great to work with.

Review 46 (2018-12-06 - Rating: 5)
I recently needed new bulbs for an existing xenon canopy light over ourkitchen island. Kirk went the extra mile to find an LED bulb that wouldwork in that fixture.I highly recommend University Lights!

Review 47 (2019-09-15 - Rating: 5)
Such a great place to go for lighting. The staff is very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about all lighting and designKirk was very helpful in helping me select my lights and i definitely recommend University Lights for any lighting project.

Review 48 (2021-01-04 - Rating: 5)
Kirk and the team at University Lights were AMAZING to work with. I own a local brewery, and weve been struggling for years with the negative effect our lighting had on our ambience. We showed up at University Lights with a very vague idea of how we wanted the feeling of our space to change and a very modest budget with which to accomplish it. Kirk jumped right on the project, and even came out to our taproom several times to consult. He helped us find the best valued products to get the job done and was very thoughtful about each piece. Its very hard to capture in photos just how much better our space feels with our new lights installed, but I cant say enough good things about it. It has improved the feel of the space dramatically, especially after dark. It was well worth the (modest) investment, and I know for a fact that the University Lights team saved us thousands of dollars as compared to hiring a designer and ordering through a larger retailer.My brewery is called The Glass Jug, and they did our location on Hwy 55 in Durham, if you want to see an example of their work in person.

Review 49 (2020-02-01 - Rating: 5)
Great selection of lighting options and extensive product knowledge as well as the newest designs ranging from traditional to modern and all in between. Highly recommended for their impeccable customer service as well.

Review 50 (2018-08-30 - Rating: 5)
Great experience. Highly recommended. They worked around my difficult schedule to get deliveries coordinated; went the extra mile and exceeded my expectations. Thanks so much!

Review 51 (2020-01-08 - Rating: 5)
Great experience with Kirk and Jay. Love our new lights and fans. Really appreciated how much they stood by their products and us during the whole process.

Review 52 (2019-09-20 - Rating: 5)
We used University Lights to supply all our lighting and fan needs for the new home we just completed. The service was great! Our sales person, Kirk, was super helpful. The prices were great. Forget the junk you find at the big box stores! I strongly recommend University Lights.

Review 53 (2018-12-04 - Rating: 5)
Helped us pick out lighting for our home and were very helpful. Good selection of choices. Friendly staff.

Review 54 (2020-11-03 - Rating: 5)
Great customer service and very knowledgeable. Will purchase all my future ceiling fans here due to such a great initial interaction.

Review 55 (2019-11-02 - Rating: 5)
I took in a lamp to be fixed. Service was friendly and fast; it was fixed while I waited. Price was really reasonable. I recommend this place 100%.

Review 56 (2019-02-27 - Rating: 5)
Great place to do business! Everyone is so helpful and knowledgeable. Youll be happy you shopped here! Guaranteed.Chase Loew

Review 57 (2019-09-29 - Rating: 5)
Kirk and his team are very knowledgeable and provided excellent customer service! They went above and beyond in communication as well as follow-up.

Review 58 (2018-04-23 - Rating: 5)
Very good service. They had installed a defective switch in a lamp of mine and fixed it, while I waited, at no charge.

Review 59 (2018-07-28 - Rating: 5)
Limited selection on display but the friendly staff will help you look through manufacturer books to find what youre looking for. Good prices too.

Review 60 (2018-11-13 - Rating: 5)
Exceptional, personalized service. Even happily and quickly fabricating a special small fixture. Good price. Good experience.

Review 61 (2024-05-16 - Rating: 5)
Great shop, knowledgeable staff. Ask for Kirk!

Review 62 (2018-05-11 - Rating: 5)
The most Unique and affordable fixtures in the area. Prompt and courteous service. Convenient location.

Review 63 (2017-10-13 - Rating: 5)
The most amazing showroom and the absolute best customer service and design consultants

Review 64 (2020-01-24 - Rating: 5)
Helpful, friendly, knowledgeable, beautiful lights and they had the chandelier part I needed!!!!

Review 65 (2019-11-12 - Rating: 5)
University Lights is a wonderful resource. The expertise of Jay, Kirk, Natalie, and Adrian is unmatched. They know the details, are completely familiar with the huge array of today’s lighting products, and have creative solutions to tricky lighting needs including repair. In addition the pricing seems fair. It’s pleasure working w these friendly folks who look for solutions. I highly recommend this lighting store.

Review 66 (2023-12-15 - Rating: 5)
Great experience 👍

Review 67 (2021-03-25 - Rating: 5)
Great customer service experience. Emily was awesome! She answered my call while checking out a customer; returned my call as she stated; researched the item (replacement halogen light for jewel display cabinet); and, finalized the sale!

Review 68 (2020-01-03 - Rating: 5)
Kirk Chandler was super helpful in helping us select lighting and fans for our new condo. Everything he said would happen did - and exactly when it was supposed to. An excellent experience all around!

Review 69 (2018-11-06 - Rating: 5)
University Lights is an amazing resource for the Chapel Hill-Durham community. Weve worked with them for years, last year during a house renovation and most recently with Kirk, for his while you wait repairs on two of my lamps (one of them a valuable antique). Kudos to him for his skills as well as his friendliness. I wouldnt go anywhere else with my lighting needs!