Tulsa lamp store loses referral link after hardware store shuts doors

A Tulsa lamp repair store says it’s been struggling to keep customers coming through the doors after the business it operated in shut down.

Rucker Lamps got most of its referrals from Midtown Hardware near 31st and Yale.

Now that the hardware store has closed, those referrals have stopped.

GETTING THE WORD OUT

Matthew Martin, the co-owner of Rucker Lamps, says he has been doing everything he can to get the word out that they are still open and in a newer location at 21st and Boston.

For four years, the business operated out of Midtown Hardware. It expanded to its own location last year.

"Everybody knew we were there,” said Martin. “When we moved out and they were still open, they would send everybody down here, and now that they've closed, it's slowed down quite a bit."

SAME SERVICES

Rucker Lamps has continued the services it provided to customers at the store, even after moving out.

"A lot of people didn't know about us and still find out about us,” said Martin. “They are shocked when they see that a lamp shop is doing sharpening and window screen repair, but we just wanted to keep that going for everybody in Midtown."

Martin says the business can do a little bit of everything.

"We build custom fixtures, restore all this vintage lighting, window screen repair, knife, scissor, yard tool sharpening, custom lamp shades,” said Martin.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MIDTOWN HARDWARE?

Midtown Hardware closed its doors earlier this month.

Related: Tulsa hardware store closing for good after 46 years in business: 'Hard to see them go'