The vintage clothing sold at Bows & Arrows Collective doesn't entirely belong in the present – and neither does the two hip owners' funky way of doing business.

Late in May, the midtown boutique relocated to a larger, 3,200-square-foot building on 19th Street (across from Safeway), which used to be home to a recording studio.

Friends and vintage fashionistas for eight years, Trisha Rhomberg and Olivia Coelho, are also both artists, though not necessarily starving.

The women are quick to point out the ambitious move was not a response to overwhelming sales.

"We were just barely holding on at the previous building," Coelho said. "We weren't able to focus on art and music as much as we would've liked."

At their former L Street location, the partners had to work against visual distractions like the cinderblock walls, meager lighting and "a spray-on popcorn ceiling ripped from the '70s," Coelho said.

The casual browsers also were a concern for Bows & Arrows. "We'd notice that they weren't really shopping," Coelho said.

The revamped space maintains its nurture of vintage clothing, with an artistic, tasteful twist.

Just past the shopping area, a sleek halogen-lit gallery with comfy tables and chairs unfolds into the final third of the expanded Bows & Arrows operation, a homey cafe that doubles some nights as a music venue.

In the back? A patio perfect for sipping a beverage or chatting with friends.

Each of the three components has its own unmistakable character, but without barriers.

"This absolutely mushroomed into a very mixed-use space," Coelho said.

"Which Sacramento didn't have," Rhomberg added. "The gallery showcases local emerging artists, plus we serve beer, wine and great food."

As Coelho says, the new-and-improved Bows serves "nice in a humble way."

Not pretentious. More at home.

Both owners hope these added features, particularly the full-service dining counter and lounge seating (with Wi-Fi), will attract a diverse crowd.

At the very least, Coelho sees the extras as helping with overhead costs and reducing clutter in the retail wing of Bows & Arrows, still her and Rhomberg's passion.

"Individual style is still important as well as being environmentally conscious. But 'vintage' is not synonymous with 'used,' " Rhomberg said. On this visit, she twirls in her geometric halter dress. "Notice the attention to the craftsmanship and detail. This could be 30 years old!" (The same age as Rhomberg herself. Coelho is 36.)

The retail space is smaller in the new digs, but Coelho and Rhomberg like that they're not "diluting" what's for sale. You'll still find jewelry from local artisans and that perfect clutch to go with the adorable '60s cocktail dress.

"We're doing the same amount of sales here as in the old store – which is great, because that doesn't include the bar and cafe," Coelho said.

It wasn't always a given that the made-over Bows & Arrows would include a profitable eatery.

The original plan was to serve just wine and beer, but that would have prevented minors from shopping and checking out the exhibits.

While noshing at Fat Face, a gourmet ice pop shop and lunch stop in Davis, Coelho marveled at the creative ingredients owner Jaymes Luu served in her sandwiches and frozen treats. (Think kaffir lime and avocado or kiwi mango.)

Luu was persuaded to bring her cuisine to the cafe at Bows. Her themes are: flavor, farm and fun.

The menu choices include a pulled pork sandwich with homemade barbecue sauce and coleslaw with a pickled carrot on the side.

"I'll be adding more refreshing items to the menu, like strawberry salsa and salmon paté," Luu said.

The bar offerings also will change with the seasons, with darker beers and heartier wines this fall.

Moving from L Street to 19th Street meant doing business with the city and its regulations.

Coelho said she was at her most frustrated when negotiating an entertainment permit. She said the city doesn't have a tiered system distinguishing between an action-packed nightclub and a relatively calm soirée at a gallery like hers.

"I understand the liability issue, but I still feel that the one permit doesn't properly define who we are as music venues," Coelho said.

So far, though, Bows & Arrows has succeeded at making ends meet – and then some.

On June 21 it hosted the Midtown Monthly Party, the first of many community events and concerts they plan to sponsor in-house and out of pocket.

Following that was their debut art showing on July 2.

One of the featured graphic designers, Melinda Arendt (along with her twin, Melissa), said that Bows & Arrows is "not stuffy, but a comfortable, relaxed, fun environment that you could hang out in all night long, if you wanted."

She said that Rhomberg took a small cut, that she constantly sells her and others' artwork on the Bows & Arrows website, and that she's "great about making up these projects that bring local artists together."

The overarching goal for Bows & Arrows, the owners said, is to fund and promote the local independent arts scene. They have a record label – Myth Lab – in the works, and some of their new staff are artists themselves.

"Our dream is to put money in the pockets of local artists and musicians, and for us to make just enough money to lead simple lives ourselves," Coelho said.

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Call The Bee's Ben Schenkel, (916) 321-1006. Bee staff writer Leigh Grogan contributed to this report.

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