After nearly five years on East Main Street, Artworks is relocating to White Oaks Retail Village. The doors open at the new store on Oct. 1.

“We’re excited about the move,” said owner Lotus MacDowell. “I think this will be a good move for us, being located in the same complex as Bonnie Belle’s and Cody’s and near Starbucks. Plus, I think we will get people who are visiting our hotels.”

Artworks has a nearly 40-year history in the area, located in downtown Clarksburg, Eastpointe, and West Main Street, Bridgeport, before anchoring The Shoppes of Averill Place on Virginia Avenue in Bridgeport. After the shops were destroyed by fire in October of 2019, Artworks moved to East Main Street, Bridgeport, where it has been located for the past five years.

The reason for the current move, MacDowell said, is that that property was recently sold, and the future of that space is yet to be determined. She said the White Oaks space, which formerly housed Minard’s Express, was brought to her attention and she decided to pursue it.

“It’s been empty for a while and there was a lot of work to be done,” she said. “Because it was formerly a restaurant, there were gas lines and water lines in the walls, and two public restrooms which we didn’t need. We’ve had to knock out walls and we really had to think it all out.”

During recent weeks, the space has been renovated. Smaller than the past two buildings Artworks has occupied, there are some perks, including the 20-foot ceilings. MacDowell took advantage of that space, building a loft where the office and inventory shelving will be located and reachable via a winch lift staircase.

“Having so much wall space also enables us to hang artwork higher – maybe three high – so we will be able to carry the work of other artists besides myself,” she said. “Mine is a certain audience, but it’s not everyone’s audience. Younger people like more contemporary-looking things. We used to carry it and now we will be able to carry it again.”

Upon entering the boutique at 20 Shaner Drive, Suite 106, shoppers will see a 10-foot store sign in signature green and purple color palette. In the rear of the room will be a giftwrap station and finished order space.

The store will carry all the same inventory as before and more.

“We’ll have lots of new stuff, especially all our Christmas inventory,” she said.

Artworks is known for its unique items combining whimsy, class and color. In addition to artwork and custom framing services, the store carries glassware, pottery, kitchen items, pillows and linens, holiday and gift items, jewelry, scarves, some apparel, children’s items and more.

Store hours will remain the same, 9:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.