After more than a century in business Union Luminaires & Décor has survived natural disasters before

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit businesses around the world very hard. For Bram Naimer, being at the helm of a 106 year old company allows for some perspective and optimism.

Union Luminaires and Décor, at the corner of Decarie Boulevard and Royalmount, was established in 1914 by the Naimer family. It is housed in the same facility as Carré Union, a one-stop shop of more than 20 retailers all catering to homes and businesses. 

The Union building facade from decades ago.

“Like generations of Naimers before me of this proud  family-owned business, we will come through this crisis just as we did through two  world wars, the Spanish flu, the great depression and the 1998 ice storm,” said Bram Naimer, the president and CEO.

In light of the present situation, the main store and those of the tenants will be temporarily closed to all   retail and commercial customers. However, the sales team is available to answer technical or design questions or simply provide information on product availability.  Appointments can be made by phone, facetime or zoom conferencing. “Let us help you find lighting, furniture or home accessories that are right for you with a virtual in-home consultation,” says Naimer  

Adjusting to the Current Situation

The company website has just been adjusted to deal with the current situation at https://unionluminaires.com while www.carreunion.com provides the necessary details with regards to all the tenants at the Decarie premises. 

Some new services have been introduced, which includes immediate free product deliveries for orders of more than $100 anywhere in the Montreal area for items currently in stock. The return policy has been extended to 15 days after the reopening. The website will be continually updated to reflect all products that are currently in stock and those that can be ordered.  The store has an extensive supply of bulbs from all manufacturers. 

Some beautiful lighting in the showroom.

Naimer has been communicating with his tenants in Carre Union and he is pleased to see that many of them do have a game plan during this crisis.  “People have a lot of time on their hands at home right now,” he says. “We know that this situation will end. When it does people will still want to furnish their homes and businesses, so why not get the ball rolling now so that the moment things normalize you can have those fixtures delivered and installed or that new piece of furniture placed. If you are self-isolated at home, we can deliver lights and other home décor products. Our other tenants are also offering delivery like Benjamin Moore. You can have paint supplies delivered and you can apply that new coat of paint to that room you have wanted to polish up for a long time or have some garden equipment brought right to your backyard.”

Bram Naimer showcases the rainbows of hope in the Union windows.

While Union Luminaires & Décor was for many years known primarily as a retailer and distributor of residential, commercial and industrial lighting products, in 1999 it expanded its offering to include an architectural hardware division. Union’s client base includes general and electrical contractors, designers, and architects, members of the hospitality trade, home builders and homeowners.  

A Long Family History

The company was first opened by Romanian immigrant Abe Naimer in a small space on Craig Street, under the name The Star Gas & Electric Co. “In those days, you changed the filaments in gas lights,” Bram Naimer recalled. “He sold filaments, wires, transformers.”

Gerry and Bram Naimer.

One by one, Abe Naimer’s five brothers — including Bram Naimer’s grandfather, Hyman — emigrated from Romania and joined him in Montreal. When they were all here, in the mid­1920s, the business changed names. “They called it Union Lighting, because they were all united again,” Bram said. “And they ran it together, pretty much until they had all passed on.”

Bram’s father, Gerry, was from the second generation to operate the business. It relocated to its current location in 1954 even before there was a Decarie Expressway   By the late 1980s, Union Lighting had become one of the largest privately-owned, full­line electrical distributors in Canada.  “I started to work there in 1949 and I still love going in every day,” Gerry recalls.

For more information email   info@unionltg.com or call 514-340-5000 ext. 122.