I had a light fixture that stopped working. It was one of a pair and I really didn't want to buy two new light fixtures so I was determined to find a business that would repair old fixtures. And then I found Ed at Ensler lighting. He beat his estimate and got my fixture back in good working order within a couple days. If you're anywhere near Berkeley go and check them out. Such a cool selection of light fixtures at their shop. It has been there for decades! And of course, if you have a fixture in need of repair go see Ed at Ensler! read more

Really appreciate Ed responding to my emails! I managed to fix the lamp I emailed him about but I felt compelled to bring in my other pieces that needed rewiring. Ed and Roel were super friendly and it was a quick (less than 1 hour) turnaround. It's a bit of a drive for me so I really appreciate them getting it done in one trip. Highly recommended. read more

Very helpful and friendly staff. When they didn't have what I was looking for, they suggested at least three places that might carry what I needed. I will definitely be returning. read more

I usually don't do reviews or ratings. But I was so impressed by the level of service and the expertise that the gentleman at the store provided that I had to do a review. Although he could not fix the specific electrical problem, he nonetheless shared his expertise and suggested where I could find the specific type of electrical cord that needed to be replaced. Sure enough the store he recommended actually had the electrical cord that was the right fit . Thank you so much for your help this afternoon. I highly recommend this business and they carry beautiful products. read more

We needed a mid-century light for our bedroom, and honestly so much lighting is impersonal, without the fine details that vintage lighting has. I combed through many options until I found the perfect light. Although Edward, the owner said I could return it if it didn't look right, it looked amazing. I now know for any other lighting options, or repairs I will turn to Ensler lighting. read more

So as we have detailed int he past, finding the correct exterior lighting for an Mid Century Modern Eichler home is less about having fun adn more about persistence. Our quest took us to Ensler lighting. What a fantastic little store. It was such a welcome relief from the same old selections. Tons of vintage lights and more importantly the owner was super friendly and helpful. Ensler will now be on our regular rotation as for our ongoing quest. read more

Ensler Lighting - Lighting Fixtures & Equipment Near Me - Berkeley, California

Very talented old school talent. Reliable owner/operator. Have used four or five times over the years.

I've bought two one of a kind lamps here that are key elements to the cozy wonderful vibes in my home.

We had two reading lamps that needed repairs. We contacted Edward at Ensler Lighting in Albany/North Berkeley and dropped them off on a Thursday and were told it would cost around $100 and take a few days. We were thrilled to receive a call on Friday to pick them up! We had just arrived home and realized that the height adjustment kept the lights directly in front of an oil painting. We called Edward and spoke to a fellow that ended up talking us through the needed internal adjustment on FaceTime! Great service, nice reasonable people, and a resource we can recommend! read more

Please visit this wonderful lighting store. The personalized service is reminiscent of days gone by, only to be had by a locally owned business committed to its craft and also its customers. I recently had two lamps repaired and also bought beautiful new shades with the expert help of Ed, an owner of the shop. You will not be disappointed in the fine quality of workmanship and selection of shades in various styles and sizes. It is truly one stop shopping for your lighting needs with expert assistance! read more

My antique lamp stopped working so I brought it here and am so glad I did! The gentleman working the shop was very kind and has a great attention for detail. My lamp works as it did before and I'm so please with how timely he was! The lamp meant a lot to me so I am glad I trusted Ensler lightning! 10/10 recommend! read more

Quick reliable repairs - I've taken in several vintage lamps and always done a great job. read more

Ensler Lighting - Lighting Fixtures & Equipment Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Holy smokes, what a find! I am almost never up on Solano Ave., as it feels kind of far, and most of my East Bay friends live more in central flats. But it's charming AF up there, and a recent visit to Ensler and Lava9 (RIP Lava9 SF, boo-hoo!) reminded me I should come up more often. Lots to eat and explore! So, this lighting shop! I'm on the obsessed hunt right now for some art nouveau/art deco nymph/lily perfect I'll know when I see it table/bedside lamps. So I popped in, and I ended up finding a phenomenal selection of everything else. (Not what I was looking for, but what I was looking for is hard to find.) One thing I found was an incredibly reasonably priced blown-glass pendant out of a very favorite pricey NYC shop. I never really expected to find anything like that outside of *maybe* eBay, but there it was, allowing me to match my collection of these. (I have 3 others across 2 houses.) They also have some incredible period items, including STUNNING deco pendants I'm trying to find an excuse to own. Lighting is one of my favorite things to play with when home remodeling, because for relatively small amounts of money you can make a BIG statement. And stores like this need our support, when 90%+ of my realtor colleagues are making their clients get trendy lights to help sell houses--to where they all look the same! ANOTHER branch light? Where's that barf emoji?! The West Elm/Pottery Barn/Crate-Barrel "fast fashion" of lighting does no one any favors. Come here and recycle something truly beautiful! Friendly/helpful staff/owner. read more

I love vintage lamps and have an embarrassingly robust collection. Seeing as how most of my lamps are 50+ years old by the time I acquire them, they've usually got little boo-boos here and there, sometimes even missing pieces. Ensler Lighting is my lamp doctor. I first discovered Ensler about a year ago when I purchased a toleware floor lamp elsewhere that was held together with wire hangers. I had no idea exactly which parts were missing, so I went to Ensler at the recommendation of the folks at nearby Urban Ore. The nice gentleman at Ensler examined the lamp and pointed out sections that had been retrofitted. He then explained how the lamp was originally configured, and on-the-spot found new parts to work around the retrofit. Since then, I've been back several times with other lamps that were missing various pieces, and one that I thought was irreparably wobbly but simply required a different globe. Just this past weekend I went in to claim a lamp that I had been yearning for since I saw it there in March. The same nice gentleman was there and tapped into my weakness, showing me another lamp he suspected I would also like. And, boy, was he right. I practically floated out of there with my two beautiful "new" lamps. He comped all the bulbs, including the special ones that the first lamp required. Made me feel appreciated as a customer. It makes me happy to see the steady flow of customers whenever I'm there. This is the kind of independent store that deserves our support! read more

See all

Super helpful service. Great inventory; unique items. Staff is patient beyond belief. Took items out for us to compare, and then stepped back to give us space to decide. Saying "exceptional retail experience" doesn't sound quite good right, but is the best way to say it. Thank you! read more

Ensler Lighting - Really cool French wall lamps . . . - Lighting Fixtures & Equipment Near Me - Berkeley, California

I take all my lamps here for repair. The owner is very knowledgable and doesn't try to upsell you on repairs. He seems committed to solving problems. Their hours are quirky but I can appreciate that. Do what you need to do. read more

Nice enough owner but also dropped the ball when I emailed a follow up order. I had tried to buy a shade for a lamp I bought up the street.

have some expensive landscape lighting that the electrical insides had gotten corroded from our well water and Ed was able to replace it quickly and reasonably priced. Highly recommend!! read more

Great service and creative problem-solving. These folks fixed my husband's beside lamp after I accidentally broke off the knob. Looks even better than before! read more

They did a great job cleaning up and repairing some old lamps that I have. Easy to work with, easy to find and the job was great. Highly recommend them! read more

Ed, (he's actually Dr. Ed, a retired pediatrician) has a wonderful selection of eclectic and beautiful lamps, shades, and parts and other objects. He's super helpful and great to talk with and eager to help you achieve your vision and knows when not to hover and leave you on your own to think and take things in, and there's lots of wonderful treasures ponder over. read more

I had a great experience getting a couple of vintage lamps fixed up here. Rates are reasonable and everyone was nice and profesh.

This review is waaaayy overdue (12/18/15) to be exact. I had a nice torchiere lamp with a foot dimmer switch. The dimmer switch broke so I had to plug in to turn the lamp on and unplug to turn it off. Anyway, I went to a local Ace Hardware store where the clerk instructed me to purchase a dimmer switch from them, splice it, and my old lamp wire, use duct tape to protect the exposed wires and all would be good. Right. Long story short, it didn't work. I returned the dimmer switch and got my refund. I took my broken lamp with the butchered dimmer wires in to Ensler. The owner (I don't remember his name) took one look and shook his head at how anyone would give me such advice. Anyway, I purchased a dimmer switch from him, and left it, and my lamp for him to re-wire it. A few days later I got the call that the lamp was ready for pick-up. I came by the next day to pick it up. Turns out that after repairing it he (the owner) over-tightened the top and bottom "screws" that kept a glass piece in place. As a result, the glass piece shattered. We discussed options for a few seconds and he (owner) said he would search around for a compatible piece to swap for the shattered glass bulb. Less than a week later I got a call. Not only had the owner found a compatible replacement piece, he offered to return my lamp for free due to the inconvenience of damaging the glass bulb. That was too generous of him. And unfair. I paid for the dimmer switch and his labor charge. Fair is fair. In addition, the owner (I apologize for not remembering his name) was totally professionally and apologetic. These things happen and he made the best of it. My lamp works great!! I am more than satisfied. This is what I call FIRST-CLASS customer service!! read more

This may sound weird to a lot of people but, I get really excited about kitschy vintage lamps. I own a few and plan to expand my collection. Ed, at Ensler Lighting, also really loves kitschy old lamps...AND he's got a knack for fixing them! My luv accidentally broke the switch on my bedside lamp, which dates back to the early 50's (the lamp, that is, not my luv!). The next day I took the lamp into Ensler and Ed got super-excited. He informed me that it was manufactured by the Moss Company of San Francisco in the early 50's, that it's worth some $$, and even brought out a Moss reference book for me to peruse. Then he took a look at the switch, which was very easy to repair. Ed also took a gander at the wiring, which was kind of a mess. In fact, it's a miracle I hadn't been electrocuted due to exposed wires and lack of insulation. I had no idea that my bedside lamp was a death trap! Long story short, Ed rewired my kitschy vintage lamp for a mere $30 and it was ready the next day. He said "Thanks for bringing in such a cool old lamp, I had fun working on it!" Well, thank you, Ed for being so awesome and efficient! I'll bring all my lamps to you from now on. And a big thanks to my luv, if you hadn't broken that switch when you did, I might've gotten zapped half to death. XOXO read more

Can I give Ensler Lighting six stars? There aren't enough nice words for Mr. Ensler. I had some pain in the butt low voltage pendant lamps that nobody wanted to repair. I called many lamp shops and no one would help me. Luckily I found Ensler and he said he could do it. Those lamps in our kitchen have been out for months. I'm so grateful that he could fix them, and the price was very reasonable. read more

This review is long overdue because I've had them repair a few lamps in the past. I accidentally walked into a lamp repair shop down the street and was met by a woman who told me that her store had a higher rating. When I placed my broken floor lamp on her counter, she immediately told me it couldn't be fixed. So......I walked a few blocks up the street to Ensler's which is where I intended to go in the first place and once again they were able to repair my floor lamp and Tony told me that it would be even stronger than it was originally. Imagine that!! It gets better.......not only were they able to make the repair and make it stronger (it's an expensive antique), but by the time I arrived home in Napa, Tony left a message on my phone that said it was ready for pick up. Now you know why I'm hooked on Ensler's....excellent service and over the top repairs. Don't waste your time anywhere else. read more

I needed a vintage lamp rewired and based on Yelp reviews this seemed to be the place. Howard knows his stuff and is happy to explain things to you if you are interested. I was fascinated and immediately gave him my trust AND my lamp. About 10 days later I got a call to tell me that my lamp was ready. Price was fair. And worth the drive! ========================================== My second visit to Ensler was just as impressive. This time I met George who let me ask him questions while he fitted another customer's lamp for the PERFECT shade! I learned a little more lamp terminology and visited with the lamp owner after she put more money in the parking meter. NOTE: don't expect to get outta here in a hurry - they are busy because they are EXPERTS and people are willing to wait for them. read more

Four stars for being supportive of fix-it-yourself ers. I was able to get the part I needed here and fix my lamp. Some repair places try to talk you into paying them to do it. The staff have peculiar personalities, but there was one guy who was completely bonkers. I haven't seen him in a long time. read more

I simply love Ensler's. I love the bearded guy who presumably owns it. Who knew that when I needed a lampshade, I'd actually look forward to shopping for it? These guys are friendly and really know their stuff, and I never feel pressure to buy the most expensive shade. Also, they seem to often have discounts. I'll only buy shades from them henceforward. Feels good to shop at a locally owned business, and from nice people. read more

They fixed my lamp quickly for a reasonable price. Service was friendly and I appreciated being able to make an appointment to drop off and pick up so I wasn't waiting around. read more

My favorite lamp stopped working, so I messaged a few businesses for lamp repair quotes. Ensler was the most responsive and friendly, not to mention quoted about $30 less for lamp repair than the others and allowed me to drop off same day. They quoted about an hour, so I stuck around the area and they finished in less than 30 mins. One of the other businesses I requested a quote from said they're running about 9 days after its dropped off to have it ready. I'm so glad I went with Ensler. They guarantee their work for 6 months as well. I highly recommend their services. read more

Super friendly and very quick turnaround. Thanks Ensler Lighting!

I have a ceiling light I absolutely love. One day I turned it on and it gave up the ghost, blowing out the bulb. Berkeley Lighting doesn't do this kind of repairs and recommended Ensler Lighting to me. I found them on Solano Ave in Berkeley. Ed Mahl, the owner looked at it and said "no problem". They fixed it in just a few days with a socket much better than the original one, and at a very fair price. It's totally old school, nothing fancy but they deliver the goods. Another plus; they play great music on their sound system. Go there, you will be glad you did. read more

Though not intentional (I think) the shopkeeper here was quite insulting. In short, we brought in a rare 50s Danish lamp with the hope that he could replace parts and put it together for us. There was only one person tending to the shop and so we had to wait a good 10 minutes for our turn -- no problem. It became our turn and we showed him our lamp. He spent about 2 minutes with us and when someone else walked in said, "sorry, I'll come back to you guys but have to keep the shop going in addition to giving out free advice" and he started helping the next guy, leaving us. We got our stuff together, walked out, and then on our way out the door he asked if we were upset, and I explained that we were there to pay the shop for their services. He admitted to making a bad assumption but it was too late. Not sure if we looked like deadbeats to him? We're in our 40s, established careers, but were dressed (slightly) hipster. Who knows. But it was odd and I don't think we'll return to Ensler Lighting in the future. read more

Came here based on reviews and was not disappointed. Turns out my wonderful floor lamp wasn't broken after all! After blowing out/cleaning 20 years worth of dead moths from the mechanism (Ewww!!), the light worked fine. The manager also tightened everything up. All this no charge. So I bought a new lightbulb and was on my way. Fast, courteous, helpful and most notably--honest. Highly recommend. read more

Worst. Service. Ever. Special ordered 2 lampshades in December. 6-8 weeks I was told. Started calling Ensler in late February. Howard didn't know whether they'd ordered them! Took several more phone calls to hear that the shades would be here "in two weeks." In two weeks: "two more weeks." In two more weeks: "Don't know if they've been ordered." Etc. etc. etc. Until finally today, nearly 5 months later, I'm told they were never ordered. NEVER AGAIN. THIS PLACE IS THE PITS. Update: I was promised a refund on my credit card THAT day. 2 days later, still no refund. Next stop: BBB. After that: small claims court. read more

Last December my friend's visiting toddler broke my late grandmother's antique (1950's) lamp. We dropped off the lamp part at Ensler and the glass shade to Albany Glassworks. I got the glass shade back by February. In February I called about the lamp and the person who answered said they'd talk to someone and get back to me. No call back. Last week I called and left a very detailed message. No call back. I don't even care if they didn't fix it anymore, I just want my lamp back. Finally after FIVE MONTHS of my calling and going in to the shop. At one point Howard actually told me he would fix the lamp that weekend and I went in two weeks later and there was my lamp, discarded on the floor with a pile of lampshades on top of it. I complained to the technician and -- within ONE WEEK my lamp was done. Five months of waiting and it was fixable in one week!!! When my lamp was finally done, I went in to pick it up, was chided by Howard for being impatient. He did not offer a discount for my inconvenience, and immediately asked me to change my Yelp review. My advice. If you have a lamp that needs fixing, find a friend with a soldering iron. This was by far the worst customer service experience I have ever had in my entire life. read more

So helpful! If you need help with a light or need to add a little excitement to some of your lighting fixtures, this is the place! I received a light as a gift but needed a shade to make it all work. And the service and selection is incredible at Ensler Lighting! The thing I appreciated most of all was the patient attentive service I received from the owner. Hard to get service anywhere these days for anything, so this was a welcome surprise. Highly recommend. read more

Wanted to put together a lamp from an old camera and Ed happily helped me out and knew just which parts I needed. Before going to Ensler I called other lighting stores that do repair in the area and all of them were very reluctant to take the time out of their days to help me find the few parts I would need. Not only was Ed happy to help, but was enthusiastic about the project. They also have a great selection of bulbs, lamps, and everything else lighting related you can imagine. Great customer service, great people, and great music! read more

Ensler Lighting - Parts bought from Ensler lighting to complete this Camera Lamp. Definitely will be coming back. Thanks Ed! - Lighting Fixtures & Equipment Near Me - Berkeley, California

User Rating: 2 out of 5 stars by Brian 12/31/2009 I can't really recommend Ensler Lighting. I brought them an old lamp which needed a new cord and socket. I received a good explanation of the mechanics involved and some information on the older mogul socket. Well, they did replace the cord, tightened the base a bit, but told me the socket was fine.When I got it home it had the same shorting problem it had before the cord was replaced. They obviously hadn't tested the lamp with a bulb. Rather than wait 3 more weeks for them to fully fix it and debate the terms of the job and receipt, I simply visited my local hardware store and bought and installed a new socket. That's what I should have done the first time around, rather than have them "recondition" the lamp! Live and learn. read more