The lighting showroom has lost its lease, president Ken Leake said, and the store is selling its merchandise at a discount of 40 percent to 70 percent until it closes at the end of March.

Leake, who owns the business with William and Linda Giannini, said a neighboring property owner, Alex Byer of Paja Investments, plans to purchase the aging building at 1130 Lincoln Ave. Paja Investments owns 1140 Lincoln Ave., the building that houses Jamba Juice, Peet's Coffee and Tea and Noah's New York Bagels.

Byer has confirmed the deal and said there are no concrete plans for the site yet, although he hopes to tie the neighboring properties together.

Throughout its long history in the community, the Blaine's Lighting building retained its older name, Blaine's Lamp & Shades. In the mid-1900s, Blaine--Leake does not know his first name--transformed a house into a business, constructing a retail space facing Lincoln Avenue. Blaine opened for business in 1951 and originally housed three businesses--a doughnut shop, a barbershop and a lighting showroom.

At the end of the workday, the Blaines had only to trek up the stairs and were home. Although the area is now used for storage, the rooms still bear a resemblance to living quarters, with a bedroom, living room and bathroom with a claw-foot tub.

The lighting business was the only shop to survive. When the barbershop and doughnut shop closed, the lighting store expanded into the entire 3,500-square-foot retail space. Like the upstairs, the retail floor maintained its domestic feeling.

"The house ambience gives it a warm feeling," Leake said.

In the 1980s, the Gianninis bought the business. By 1992, the couple was ready to close the business when Leake joined them as a partner and took over daily operations.

Leake changed the business from selling just lampshades and offering lamp repair to carrying the top-of-the-line lighting fixtures, track lighting, picture mirrors and ornate chandeliers that hang in the Lincoln Avenue storefront.

Willow Glen resident Kathleen Erdmann turned to Blaine's when remodeling her home. Blaine's staff helped Erdmann and her husband find the perfect fixture for their kitchen.

"Those fixtures hold true to the integrity of our house," Erdmann said. "Blaine's Lighting provides great service and quality products."

The business also benefited from the technology boom of the 1990s. As income grew, residents purchased new homes and lighting equipment from Blaine's. But when the economy turned in 2001, business dipped as well, Leake said.

Although the store is closing on Lincoln Avenue, Leake said the Saratoga location, 12312 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, will continue to offer the same products.

For more information, visit blaineslighting.com.