Nostalgia, creativity, and imagination are the fuel that has kept Luna Luna 209’s magic alive and thriving for the past year.
Nestled on Canal Street in downtown Merced — the same building that once housed the Kreepy Kawaii gallery and Abracadabra store — this whimsical and lively downtown shop is a beautiful dream come to life— straight from the mind of anyone’s inner child.
Y2K clothing, print media, movies, CDs, and an array of curated accessories crafted by local vendors make up the details inside Luna Luna. A high-heeled cushioned chair sits outside their dressing room, right next to the shop’s “boy corner” — a section of the shop dedicated to VHS tapes, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl.
“My favorite thing to say is that our shop has something for every type of girl, for every type of person,” Odalis Guillen, co-owner of Luna Luna explained of the space’s diversity. “You can find something for anyone here.”
The shop will celebrate its first anniversary with a special vendor blowout event (and birthday party) on March 15 — a milestone neither of the two owners, Angela Dugan and Odalis Guillen, could have imagined a year ago, especially considering they had just met one another not too long before.
“We were both vendors at the Supermarkt [local street market] and we barely knew each other,” Angela explained of the beginning of their friendship, and soon-to-be partnership.
“It was the night of Goth Prom when we first interacted,” Odalis reminisced. The two happened to be the only volunteers who showed up to help set up the balloon arch for the yearly event hosted by Abracadabra at the Partisan. “We’re both scared of balloons, by the way,” she laughed.
Ang3larts and The Eclectic Crystal are the respective names of the creative businesses the two independently run outside (and inside) of the Luna Luna brand. Ang3larts features cute and dainty crochet pieces and art prints, while The Eclectic Crystal consists of handmade jewelry, thrifted finds, and tooth gem accessories.
After vending at Supermrkt, the pair became vendors inside Abracadabra, a rarities shop owned by Sarah Macias, who ultimately influenced and paved the path for the two Latina owners to create and build their space.
“I felt crazy,” Odalis explained. “This is not something two, 23-year-old girls do!”
But in fact, they did!
Luna Luna is creatively built, owned, and operated. It consists entirely of permanent and rotating local vendors and creatives from the Central Valley.
“The vendors bring their creativity, their personalities, and their heart,” Angela said. “It’s crazy to see that we’re all from the Central Valley. It’s so inspiring.”
Luna Luna has also become a creative crafting space, movie-viewing spot, and an all-around safe space for people of all ages to indulge in and reconnect with their past selves and inner child.
In honor of International Women’s Day, the shop hosted an art show titled “I Love Being a Woman.” The event highlighted what it means to be a woman, a feminine-presenting person, or someone who appreciates womanhood.
“I found myself trying to force myself to grow up,” Odalis explained of her childhood, and the meaning behind her piece for the art show. “I needed to be mature. I needed to take care of myself and compared to what I do now, it’s just so different. Womanhood to me is realizing that I can take care of myself, and I can take care of my inner child, and heal myself from what I’ve been through.”
Odalis’ artwork is a beautiful, heart-shaped quilted and collaged piece, decorated with lace, magazine letters, and other recycled details. It serves as a reflection of her 25-year-old self reconnecting with her inner child.
“We can do anything,” Angela said of her feelings towards womanhood. “We are everything, we inspire everything, we are a powerhouse.”
Angela’s piece consists of twin 3D apples, one full, except for one bite taken, and one almost completely eaten. The two apples are individually adorned with fabric and lace, separated but connected through thin lines of thread, showcasing their unity as one.
“This is my mom,” Angela explained of one of the apples. “We’re in this together, and that’s what womanhood is. I know any woman will always have my back — even if there’s animosity. We’re in this together, and we have this secret language; we understand each other in our own way, always.”
In just one year, Luna Luna has proven to be a haven for self-expression, creativity, and a deep love for all things nostalgic. Stay up to date on their latest events, cute trinkets and art by following them on Instagram @lunaluna.209.
You can also join Luna Luna 209 for their one-year anniversary celebration on March 15, from noon to 6 p.m., at 1731 Canal St. in downtown Merced.
