BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Find the link to our Open For Business list of West End businesses below the Spotlight …

LOST LAGOON
A Familiar Face At An Old Location

When Miko Abuyen came to Canada from her native Philippines in 1994 she spent the first eight years in Saskatoon before moving to the coast and finding what will be her permanent home here in Vancouver. Ten years later a job at Fast Frames on Denman introduced West Enders to her gracious smile and devotion to art, artists, and art collectors and fans.

Fast Frames, founded in 1974 and a bit of a West End institution, closed its doors during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and, what with one thing and another, the owner decided that it was time to say goodbye permanently.

Enter Miko, with a vision and the energy to carry it out.

A new name, the same familiar professional framing service. (click image to enlarge)

Last month the Fast Frames location reopened as Lost Lagoon, with the same professional custom framing service, wide range of framing materials and options, and many of the original staff members who the community had come to know and trust.

Miko, whose previous career had been in movie prop making, has introduced a new theme for the art inventory at Lost Lagoon. Everything from original artwork to greeting cards and posters will be the works of local artists.

“I envision Lost Lagoon becoming a sort of hub for local artists and craftspeople,” Miko told The West End Journal. “We will expand our inventory as we connect with more Vancouver and BC creators, and include items such as hand-made skin care products and other craft works.”

Lost Lagoon is in its new location on a month-to-month basis, as Muse Cannabis, (with two locations on Granville Street, stores coming soon in North Vancouver, Courtney, and Campbell River) wants to expand further and is trying to secure the lease. With the many hoops and hurdles a cannabis store must navigate, and in this case concerns about the proximity to King George Secondary School, that may be quite some time in the future.

“It could be six months” notes Miko, “it could be years. We’ll be here as long as possible and in the meantime, we’re keeping an eye out for a more permanent location.”

As business grows and local artists and art lovers discover Lost Lagoon, let’s hope that a forever home can be found soon. In the meantime, drop by and welcome Miko and her staff to the neighbourhood!