If you’re driving down Eagle Rock Boulevard, there is one building guaranteed to catch your eye: Leanna Lin’s Wonderland. The bright blue storefront makes it a prominent building to outside viewers, and once you step inside, its playful and whimsical qualities will quickly become apparent. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland is one of the many vital shops that make up Eagle Rock.
Open since 2010, Leanna Lin’s Wonderland is an art gallery and gift shop. With its carefully curated atmosphere, the store is a truly unique spot in Eagle Rock.
Leanna Lin’s Wonderland has a selection of art and prints by independent artists. Additionally, the store sells jewelry, candles, and collectibles. Some of the most popular items are the ‘blind-box’ collectible figures, most notably Smitskis, Mofusan, and Sonny Angels. Leanna Lin’s Wonderland features a wide range of diverse children's books, which are artfully displayed by the store employees.
Leanna Lin’s Wonderland is not just a store– it’s also an art gallery, featuring selected pieces from independent and local artists. The owner, Leanna Lin Fong, collaborates with gallery curators, developing unique exhibitions by brainstorming new ideas about current events. Some shows promote diverse artists, such as The Very Asian Art Show, while others are playful like her Super Pets exhibitions. Either way, I recommend checking them out, especially her recently announced December exhibition, Tiny Glimmers.
As the popularity of Japanese art and culture has grown, Leanna Lin’s Wonderland has gained many new shoppers. However, many Eagle Rockers have been going to Leanna Lin’s since its opening, highlighting the importance of this spot in our community. I had the privilege of interviewing Leanna Lin Fong, the owner and creator of Leanna Lin’s Wonderland, and learning about her store, including the highs and lows of being a business owner in Eagle Rock, as well as how the store became the place it is today.
After attending LASCHA (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts), and studying fashion in college, Leanna Lin went on to work in the fashion industry for over a decade. During this time, she played with the idea of opening her own store where she could sell her designs. The idea for the store began with selling beaded jewelry locally. After working in Eagle Rock for a few years, Leanna Lin decided it would be the perfect place to set up a store, “I admired all the shops that were also in the area, and I wanted to be part of that.”
Leanna Lin is a very creative person, and her unique style is clearly reflected in her shop. She curates all of the decor and items to match her aesthetic. She is inspired by many other artists, including her current favorite artists Naoshi and Fafi. Naoshi is a Japanese artist based in Los Angeles, known for her colorful and surreal stylized art. Fafi is a French street artist whom Leanna Lin has been a fan of for many years. Both artists inspire her, and you can find prints and clocks featuring Naoshi’s illustrations for sale at the store.
Running a business is no easy job. There are many difficulties, such as keeping up with changing trends and readily adapting to the current business environment. Many local businesses were greatly affected by the pandemic. It was difficult for her to adapt the store to lockdown, and made things quite unpredictable and tedious. There is also the stress of maintaining financial stability, paying taxes, and doing tasks such as bookkeeping.
Of course, it’s not all bad. There are many good things about owning a business. For Leanna Lin, her favorite part of being a business owner is being her own boss and having creative freedom. As she puts it: “I get to do what I believe in.” She enjoys picking items for her store and building something that accurately represents her. “You curate and you pick the items of what you like and what you believe in.”
Despite all of the challenges, it’s worth it for the unique and iconic store she has built.
Looks pretty nice.