50-year-old Orangeburg business won't survive the times By RENDY BOLAND, T&D Correspondent Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Leave a Comment | Default | Large
For almost a half century, Shirley Hughes Dennis and her family have provided the Midlands with every kind of light under the sun.
In fact, Lighting Creations on Calhoun Drive grew into one of the largest lighting showrooms in the Southeast.
However, citing a downward trend in the housing market and a weak economy, Dennis has decided the time has come to turn out the lights.
“We have already started reducing prices to liquidate our inventory,” she said. “And we will continue to mark things down until we sell as much as we can, although a definite closing date has been decided.”
In 1961, Dennis and her husband, the late Al Hughes, opened their business with a commitment to offering fair prices on a large inventory of quality products while offering the highest level of service possible.
“We once had a booming business,” Dennis said.
Having outgrown its original location on Amelia Street, the business moved in 1967 to its current location, 170 John C. Calhoun Drive.
When Dennis’ husband Al died in 1979, she decided to keep the business open thanks in part to her entire family, all of whom have been employed at one time or another at the store.
The business continued to grow, adding wall clocks, mantel clocks, ceiling fans, grandfather clocks and curio cabinets to the inventory.
According to the store owner, “Nobody around carries nice clocks anymore.”
In 1982, Dennis married Bowman resident Mac Dennis and he joined the staff as bookkeeper. Mac died in 2009.
“I was hoping that my son Tracey Hughes and manager Barry Dukes would continue with things, but we just don’t have the business to keep it open.”
“We will continue to place special orders until we close,” Dennis said.
Referring to the thought of closing the business, she said:
“I’ll miss it.”
“I love it.”
“It’s hit us all.”
As one customer was overheard saying, “I hate to see them go out of business because they had such unusual things.”
