Frames of Mine: Not Just for Your Frames

Whether you need a beautiful frame, a customized piece of artwork, an original print, jewelry, pens, lamps, a vase or even a three foot high ceramic owl umbrella holder, you need only visit one place in Fort Lee. has been in business in Fort Lee for over 34 years and is still going strong. The owner, Susan Boni, is a big fan of Fort Lee; she opened her own frame shop when she was 24.

Though Frames of Mine has changed locations over the last few decades – but never left Fort Lee – it hasn’t changed clientele. Boni says that she’s been seeing the same amicable faces since she opened up shop. In fact, they’re not just customers anymore.

“They become my friends,” Boni said.

Boni has seen Fort Lee go through a few changes, but she says the framing business has stayed the same. Not even the digital age has touched it. People still want their antique frames and their personalized wall art. People keep coming back, despite the economy, despite the changes, despite everything.

Boni originally studied at New York Institute of Technology, where she majored in Art History & Design. She feels that she still taps into her education at Frames of Mine, because after all, what she does is art. Born on Long Island, she lived in Fort Lee for decades before moving to Nyack, NY with her husband.

“[This business] has taught me a lot about people,” Boni said, when asked what she’s learned over the years.

100 Main Street was originally “Wildflowers;” Boni moved Frames of Mine to the location 12 years ago. Today she runs the store with her husband, a retired architect, and cheerfully greets the public five days a week.

Frames of Mine carries just about everything that could be gifted to someone else; customers needn’t only visit if they need something framed. Aside from the literally hundreds of frame to choose from, the shop supplies a variety of trinkets, baubles and other odds and ends that will make perfect gift items for the confused shopper, who has no idea what to get. The list is endless – you just have to go and see it for yourself.

There’s something for all tastes. Those who like more ornate design, with clashing colors, mixed textures, and interesting patterns can easily find something within arm’s length. Those with more modern, austere preferences like straight lines, plain design and muted colors can get lost among the variety of choices.

A simple two-minute walk through the store turns up jewelry, a white bulldog, a T-Rex skeleton, a full length silver framed mirror, glass blown birds, and lampshades. There’s really no rhyme or reason to the place; people looking for a neat, ordered shopping experience may want to stick to more boring options like Walmart.

Though the store is an explosion of color, taste, style and design, reminiscent of flea markets and carnival bazaars, Boni is quick to set that record straight.

“We are not a garage sale store,” she said.

In fact, the items she sells are from all over the world, if not by maker, then by design. Boni recently bought out an entire Italian frame company that was going out of business because she simply loved the frames.

“How could I not have these frames?” she said, displaying a painted gold picture frame.

Frames of Mine is located at 100 Main St. in Fort Lee.