Designer lighting brand glows up with first San Antonio showroom

Visual Comfort & Co. is opening its first San Antonio showroom.

Photo courtesy of Visual Comfort & Co.

Light is intrinsic to sight, and if your home has poor lighting, then no amount of cool art or tasteful antiques will make it look inviting. Visual Comfort & Co. is tackling the lighting needs of San Antonio with their new 4,000 square foot storefront located at 6411 Broadway.

"San Antonio's design sensibility reflects a respect for heritage, materials, and enduring quality," says Gale Singer, founder of Visual Comfort & Co.'s direct division. "This showroom brings together our decorative and architectural lighting expertise in a way that allows customers to experience how thoughtful, layered lighting works in harmony with natural light and the warmth of the region."

The showroom is open for walk-ins or by appointment. In-person or virtual consultations can be scheduled online or by calling 210-374-8698.

Founded in 1987 by Singer's brother, Andy, in a Houston garage, Visual Comfort & Co. rapidly expanded thanks to partnerships with high-end designer brands like Chapman & Myers, Ralph Lauren, Kelly Wearstler, Kate Spade, and Suzanne Kasler. There are no more than 60 locations worldwide, making it a Texas success story.

Visual Comfort specializes in high-end style.Photo courtesy of Visual Comfort & Co.

The company specializes in architectural lighting, decorative lighting, and ceiling fans, tailoring products to residential and some commercial space needs. Working with a professional lighting specialist can make all the difference in your home. The new San Antonio location utilizes motorized shades (also available to customers) to demonstrate various lighting conditions that showcase how shifting light levels can bring out the best in your home.

Visual Comfort & Co. also offers delivery, installation, and continued support, the latter being particularly important with customized lighting, as replacing used materials can be challenging in some fixtures.

While most homes and commercial spaces have functional lighting, custom design can enhance the architecture, bring out the colors in your art choices, and make sure that the tone of a space is exactly what you want it to be. Any lamp can make it bright enough to read by, but custom lighting design is a trick many designers swear by.

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HILL COUNTRY HAPPENINGS

Historic Gruene storefront reveals opening date of new mercantile

Photo by Michael Barera/ CC BY-SA 4.0

H.D. Gruene Mercantile Store will open in mid-February.

An iconic Hill Country storefront will soon return to its general store roots. H.D. Gruene Mercantile Store is targeting a February 18 opening at 1607 Hunter Rd. in New Braunfels’ historic district.

The project comes from Gruene Hall ‘s owners, the Molak Corporation, who own the landmark building. The hospitality group made way for the new shop by closing the Gruene Antique Company, a 39-year-old favorite for sourcing unique vintage finds.

Once open, the two-story brick building, built in 1904, will no doubt still be a popular shopping destination. The new incarnation will carry home decor, clothing, and gifts with a focus on Texas-made goods — a return to when the site sold “everything from cheese to farm implements.”

“After prolonged consideration, we are excited to return the building to its former glory as a mercantile store," said Susie Molak, wife of the late founder Pat Molak, in an earlier press release. "We aim to preserve the legacy of Gruene while looking intentionally to the future, and we believe this shift will highlight the history of this iconic location."

This isn't the first time the building has seen a chance. Gruene Mercantile (known briefly as Gruene Brothers Store) shuttered in 1938 at the tail-end of the Great Depression, becoming saddle tree manufacturer Hadlock & Fox. Gruene Antique Company first debuted in 1986.

Aside from Gruene Hall and H.D. Gruene Mercantile Store, the family-owned Molak Corporation owns several popular concepts in New Braunfels, including Gristmill River Restaurant, Cantina del Rio, and Mozie's. In San Antonio, the company also owns Down on Grayson and Josephine Street near Pearl.

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