New Bows and Arrows Aim for Local Culture

When Olivia Coelho and Trisha Rhomberg joined forces to open their Bows and Arrows shop in late 2007, they probably had no idea of the impact they'd have on the hipsters of Sacramento. Coelho, who had already had some success with her popular Midtown boutique Olipom, found the perfect business partner with another artist, clothing label Pretty Trashy's designer Trish Rhomberg. Together, the two women created a funky retail space on L Street, chock full of second-hand furnishings, vintage clothing, as well as their line of re-made fashions, Miss Chief of California. This Bows location also served as host mother to several mini-shops that were to become full fledged businesses in their own right, the most notable being Thunderhorse
Vintage, now located on J Street in Midtown.

But retail was never Rhomberg's or Coelho's end destination- these women intended to do more than shuffle hangers, scoot sofas and bag up vintage scores for shoppers. For years the two had been presenting live music events, as well as art and fashion shows that seemed designed to nurture and showcase fellow local talent. This mutual focus on fostering a local arts and music scene recently found fruition in an unassuming ivy-covered building located across from Safeway at 19th and S Street.

Early in June of 2011, Bows + Arrows calmly opened its doors, after months of hard work and preparation. Their new location comes off simultaneously as spacious and intimate, a cool haven for the culturally minded. Rhomberg and Coelho have created the perfect venue to foster a thriving local scene-it is an artfully designed space filled with eclectic décor, all of it made from re-purposed or recycled materials. Bows and Arrows now boasts an art gallery, a café, a music label, and a retail space displaying racks of their signature 80's flavored vintage, quirky thrifted home wares, a collection of locally made, hand crafted jewelry, and one of the best outdoor patios in Sacramento.

Not surprisingly, Bows and Arrows' premiere event was an art show. The first artist featured was Hilary Pecis, an emerging talent from the Bay Area who works with digital imagery. For Coelho and Rhomberg, there is little distinction between experiencing art, fashion, music and artful living. All serve to benefit the other and with their new space, Bows + Arrows hopes to target others who seek to experience the same.

Check out: The Bows and Arrows Fun and Funky Vintage
Bows offers up a selection of men's and women's vintage clothing, shoes, bags and accessories. Although the emphasis seems be on pop '80's fashions, all decades are represented from the 1950's onwards.

The Quirky Home Wares
Part of the Bows and Arrows aesthetic relies heavily on recycled and re-purposed objects and their selection of ironically dated vintage home goods that seem specially chosen to make ironic statements for the hipster home.

The Fat Face Café
Jaymes Luu moved her Davis-based Fat Face Café into the auspices of Bows and Arrows, dishing up simple, well-executed sandwiches and sides, along with her specialty popsicles that feature seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. . Along with good grub comes a finely curated beer and wine selection with options that range from a $2 can of Hamm's to a draft Lagunitas IPA that can set you back a reasonable three-buck-fifty. If vino is more to your liking there is a wonderful wine list, one would be delightfully torn between deciding on which singing wine title to taste, such as Monpertuis Cote-du-Thone, Cascina deglis Ulivis "Semplicemente" Rosso or Perre Plouzeau Chinon. For current listings, check the continually updated beer/wine menu.

Locally-made, Hand-crafted Jewelry
The retail space in Bows is amply stocked with unique jewelry pieces made by local artists.

The Bows Collective Art Gallery: Each month, Trish and Olivia curate a new art show featuring local and emerging artists. Check website for upcoming shows.