RICK McCAWLEY / Miami Herald Staff
ENLIGHTENED FELLOWS: Derek Hude and Ron Fabian, owners of Light Bulbs Unlimited, say people are delighted to know where to buy light bulbs.
You know the song You Light Up My Life! Derek Hude has about 5,000 ways. "I'm sure there are 20,000 more we haven't discovered yet," said Hude, co-owner of Light Bulbs Unlimited in North Miami Beach. The store carries all kinds of lighting accessories and gadgets, but its primary business is bulbs, lots of different kinds of bulbs. "We offer a service to people who have great difficulty in finding bulbs," Hude said. "Any bulb that is manufactured basically in the world, we have access to." "If we cannot find it in Florida, we'll get it in another state. If we cannot find it in America, we'll get it from Europe," Hude said. "If it's still made, we will get it for them." Hude and his partner, Ron Fabian, opened the franchise outlet nine months ago. There is another store in Fort Lauderdale. The owners are considering ones in South Miami and Kendall. Between 25 to 30 customers come in to buy bulbs every day. Some walk in with lamps they bought in other countries. Others come in to find colorful lighting that can be used to spruce up a party, restaurant or club. "We market this business professionally. We take it very seriously. There are a lot of frustrated people out there who walk around with bulbs they can't replace for months," Hude said. The store also carries grow bulbs, used to grow plants indoors; commercial lighting used in parking lots; and high-pressure sodium bulbs used in stadiums. It has track lighting, custom-made neon and colorful fluorescent rope lighting like the kind seen in restaurants and night clubs. Lights range in price from 49 cents for a household bulb to $450 For a bulb used on European graphic laser printers. "They opened up this store and, hell, the name says it all," said customer Michael Vinci, who is in charge of lighting and special effects at Facade, a night club and restaurant in North Miami Beach. "I think it's great. Vinci, who uses theatrical lighting and aircraft landing lights at Facade, said he spends about $1,000 a month on bulbs. He has been a regular customer since he discovered the store six months ago, he said, because it is convenient and prices are fair.Hude said business has been good. "It's a great service," he said. "People are thrilled that they can actually find a light bulb."
By NANCY SAN MARTIN Herald Staff Writer