FINDING THE WAY

Get lost in antiques in Lost … Again

BY LINDSEY WILSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLGER OBENAUS

It’s easy to disappear for hours inside the aptly named Lost … Again Antiques & Décor. The original Lost—and its sister store, Found—held court on Riverfront Boulevard for a little over a decade before moving to a new Dallas Design District spot at 148 Riveredge Drive. This next generation of the popular antiques mall is still a showplace for handmade pieces and funky retro finds from Texasbased dealers, but its larger footprint has allowed owner Beth Callahan to expand Lost … Again’s unique offerings.

“All the best vendors came with us [when we moved],” says Callahan. “Some people deal antiques as a hobby, but the vendors we have now are all fantastic professionals, and we’ve even gotten a few new ones that I’ve been wanting to work with for years.”

Lost’s previous owner, Bill Edwards, is one such pro who came along for the ride. A master clockmaker, Edwards displays a sizeable collection of watches, clocks, seismographs, microscopes, gramophones and old records at the new store. He sold Lost to Callahan, its longtime manager, when the building’s new landlord decided he wanted some of the space for his own business and wouldn’t have room for an antiques store (Found had been sold years before).

Edwards’ rare timepieces are just a taste of what discerning shoppers (both industry professionals and the general public) might find inside Lost … Again. The bright, white, window-filled space is deliberately open and airy—the opposite of what many people expect when hunting for vintage treasures.

“We didn’t want the new place to be dark and ‘usual,’” says Callahan. “Most people don’t ever even make it to the third or fourth aisle, so aisles were the first thing to go.”

Callahan’s architect friend Sam Miranda designed the new layout, and with enthusiastic construction help—including installing pony walls and new high-capacity, energy efficient air conditioning—from their new landlord, Lost … Again was able to move into its new premises in only two weeks.

Visitors can select jewelry treasures from Eric Yang’s impressive art deco jewelry collection, and admire seashells, coral, amazing fossils, minerals and unique furniture by Maggie and John of Dinostaur. Lost … Again’s customers can also marvel at and purchase from the huge collection of colorful, curvy mid-century modern furniture from Linda’s Designers Group. Studio217’s reclaimed wood furniture, life-size sculptures and unique light fixtures echo the vibrant feel of one of its famous Dallas clients, the artfilled Lorenzo Hotel. A cozy reading nook is also set up near a window, inviting bibliophiles to stay awhile, with welcoming chairs and a mini library of rare tomes from Shirley Dyess (The Dust Jacket). Sarah Anderson’s (Anderson Arts) millinery skills are apparent each holiday, when whimsical, seasonal hats pop up throughout the store (and often land atop employees’ heads).

“This is not a place to be serious,” says Callahan, laughing. She notes that the store’s wine and liquor stash is often “raided” to provide for mid-shopping toasts.

The Dallas Design District’s recent revitalization has been a boon for all area businesses, and Callahan is especially excited about Lost…Again’s current location. She eagerly points out that a new “Texas cuisine” restaurant is set to open up across the street, and Texas’ first Virgin Hotel, set to open in 2018, is only three blocks away on Hi Line Drive.

“Have you ever heard that something’s meant to happen, like the doors just open?” asks Callahan. “We couldn’t believe we might have to leave Lost when the old building sold, but now it feels like everything just fell into place. We are so lucky.”

Lindsey Wilson is a Dallas-based freelance writer who has a penchant for reclaimed wood and vintage barware.

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