There are many that know Lotus Averil Mac Dowell as the owner and operator of Artworks. They know she’s been in Bridgeport at her current location among The Shoppes at Averill Place and prior to that along Main Street for many years. They know she’s successful.

 

What some may not know is that Mac Dowell wasn’t always located in Bridgeport, and that she even had a location prior to a business stay at Eastpointe. On top of that, many probably have no idea that Artworks got its start in downtown Clarksburg, right on Pike Street.

 

And Lotus Averill Mac Dowell, who is a proud and thriving small business owner, got her start three decades ago. It was 30 years back when Artworks opened its doors for the first time next to the former Robinson Grand Theater that was, at the time, known as the Rose Garden Theatre.

 

“They had long since quit showing movies in the building. By that time, it was being utilized for shows such as dance recitals,” said Mac Dowell. “That was a long time ago and we were just getting started.”

 

Of course, Mac Dowell was just getting started in the business world. Her foray into the world of art was well underway. The West Virginia University graduate with a BA in Visual Arts had already begun making her rounds in that realm even though she wasn’t sure where those rounds would take her.

 

“I knew I didn’t want to teach. What I wanted to do was paint. If you taught, you were at that job a minimum of 40 hours a week, which meant that you didn’t have time to paint and that’s all I wanted to do,” she said.

 

As is often the case, her start was where she didn’t want it to be – in the classroom as an artist-in-residence in the school system. She would spend time at various schools, teach and do demonstrations.

 

“It wasn’t that I didn’t like the classroom, but I knew that’s not where I wanted to end up. At the same time, I didn’t anticipate having an art gallery,” said Mac Dowell.

 

Mac Dowell knew one other thing that involved her passion and what she had just received a degree in – making a living from selling paintings would be a difficult proposition. Trying to do so in a large population base was difficult, and having a smaller audience thanks to the numbers offered by North Central West Virginia made that path a treacherous one had she chosen to go that way.

 

“I knew that was a very dicey way to make a living,” said Mac Dowell. “Early on, before I opened up a shop, I had my art and I was doing the framing, the matting and everything else. That’s when it dawned on me that it would make sense to open up a framing business and at the same time display my work.”

 

Her husband at the time encouraged her to open up a storefront. That’s what happened and Artworks was born in 1986. Right away, she had a very visible location next to a venue that had just enough people walking and milling around in the early stages of the business to make things work. And there was also another early piece of action that proved beneficial.

 

“We bought out the framing department at Eagle Glass & Paint, which was an old paint store on Main Street in Clarksburg,,” said Mac Dowell. “That was when things got going. I was able to do framing of various art work, my own art work and display my work. I also started carrying other people’s art and displaying it as well.”

 

The real breakthrough, however, came when Mac Dowell began to not just sell original work, but the prints from the originals. And there’s a good chance you’ve see the prints of places in businesses throughout the area. Mac Dowell’s prints focused on well-known locations such as the original Bluebird Store, the Glen Elk Train Station, the Sons of Italy Building, the Bridgeport Stockyards, the Green Parrot and others.

 

While that was working, the location wasn’t. Mac Dowell and Artworks soon were on the way to Eastpointe in 1990, where they were near the Oliverio’s Bridal Shop. For four years, the business thrived there before another move was necessitated.

 

“The rent got too high, particularly after we expanded into a small space. It was just too much,” she said.

 

The next location of Artworks was across from Twin Oaks on Main Street Bridgeport and in a smaller shop. The space was just 900 square feet, but it met most of the needs.

 

“We liked the space and stayed there for a while. In the end, it just came down to me wanting my own building so if I decided to put money into the building, I could get that money back,” said MacDowell.

 

Eight years after the move into the Main Street building, Artworks was on the move again – and this time for the final time. Twelve years ago, Mac Dowell moved into her current location on Virginia Avenue and Artworks had a home as part of The Shoppes at Averill Place as she purchased the entire building.

 

Today, the building includes more than just Artworks. There is Provence Market and The Nest – a restaurant and yarn/knitting business, respectively that round out the niche formed by Mac Dowell.

 

“I wanted the artistic flair and I think we have that. Any time you have a restaurant by a business such as mine, it’s a good thing. You add to that the great parking we have and more traffic than ever since traffic is routed around this way from the backside of (Platinum Drive) from Eastpointe and we’re doing very well,” said Mac Dowell. “I love this location and the big front porch … I’m a bit autonomous here and at the same time people recognize our building. We’ve been fortunate to be successful for a long time now.”

 

Of course, a lot of that stems from the fact Mac Dowell has a staff that has been around almost as long as she’s been in business. Brenda Malfregeot and Tene Murray both have more than 20 years working with Artworks, with Malfregeot serving longer than anyone. Gilda Coombs has worked 12 years now they also have a new employee in Marie Osborn.

 

“I’ve been fortunate to have a good business and fortunate to have good people that are hard workers and loyal,” said Mac Dowell. “That makes you feel the need to give back. I’ve been blessed with the life I have so that’s what you’re supposed to do – give back.”

 

And she has. Mac Dowell, known for being involved in many civic endeavors, has volunteered hundreds of hours at the Clarksburg Mission. She’s helped in the design of apartments at the Mission located in the Glen Elk section of Clarksburg, notably work on the apartments for male and female veterans that have become homeless. She’s also helped with transition rooms.

 

“When you’re blessed with a great life, you have responsibility and I try to live up to that,” she said.

 

For 30 years now, Mac Dowell has done that. She’s become the successful small business owner who gives back to the same community that supports her. Because of that, she’s got the world by the tail.

 

“Everything, all 30 years, have been worthwhile. In all honesty, there’s not one day I’ve dreaded not going to work. When I’m here I’m having fun and when I’m in the studio I’m having fun,” said Mac Dowell. “I couldn’t have imagined it being this good when we first got started. I know it’s been 30 years, but I’m not done. I’ve got a lot of creativity left in me.”