When you are ready for something different, and uniquely Tucson, come check out the Lost Barrio... I spent a good part of Friday afternoon here, and I'm happy to report that it's incredibly impressive!!! FIrst off, I felt like I was in Santa Fe, (which is one of my favorite places). Upon entering the individual stores, I felt as if I were transported to many nations- all over the world- like a world traveler without even getting my feet off the ground!
At the Lost Barrio, you'll find Colonial Frontiers, which imports very cool antique and modern furniture, as well as replicas from (appears to be) mostly India and Indonesia. Furniture, art, and pottery. Their advertisement says, "Antique furniture, folkart, and architectural elements from around the world." From an archeological standpoint, Colonial Frontiers is one of the most interesting stores on the block. This store offers a treasure trove of fascinating artifacts from all over the world.
The Lost Barrio is a shopping district where I can honestly say that each store is unique and wonderful in its own right... In one of the stores, La Casa Mexicana- they sell mostly furniture and home accessories from Mexico. When I walked in the door (around 1:30 PM on Friday), the smell of homemade pozole wafted through the air. Turns out the entire family was having lunch in a kitchen area in the front of the store. SO COOL! It made me feel like I was in Mexico.
Then I came upon "Hollo Collection," a store that sells antiques (mostly European and American), but also amazingly restores and artistically creates new furniture that truly could pass for antique. While I was browsing in the store, I heard three people speaking French. (I went from Mexico to France)! Brigitte Hollo-Grolig is one of the owners. Although slight in demeanor, she was passionate in telling me how they painstakingly restore old furniture, but also how they create and build replicas from very old past hits (like an extremely comfortable reading chair that was Voltaire's favorite chair). No wonder Voltaire did a lot of philosophizing and reading in this chair- it was amazingly comfortable! If you have furniture that is in need of restoration, or if you're looking for period replicas that look like antiques, Hollo Collection is the place to come.
Bottom line, there'a a passion and a magic here that pervades this city block (Park Ave and 12th Street, just east of downtown). I don't know why more Tucsonans don't come here to shop for home furnishings. I was having delusions of grandeur, wishing that the lost Barrio could become like the LoDo district in Denver- with lots of cool restaurants, cafe's, and shops. Maybe it will someday? But today if you come, you'll find a beautiful collaboration of the shop owners' artistic visions (they agree not to sell duplicate merchandise). This translates to a huge selection of unique art and furniture for your home... Individual and quality pieces, that may cost a bit more than mass produced items, but can bring you much happiness over the years in customizing your home with artistic flair.
Whether you are a tourist in Tucson, or if you simply want to feel like a tourist in Tucson- I highly recommend that you visit the Lost Barrio. Even if you don't buy anything here, the poetry is in the air... You'll hear it and see it if you have an open mind. An open wallet helps too! read more