LEWISTON — The creator of the “I (heart) downtown Lewiston” shirts is headed back downtown.

More than a year after closing Downtown Handmade & Vintage, Sheri Withers is reopening the shop on Lisbon Street, adding a gallery and moving an artists’ collective known as The Hive into the space with her.

Her new shop on the second floor at 277 Lisbon St., by Paul’s Clothing, opens Wednesday.

Withers said she closed Downtown Handmade & Vintage last January because of health issues. 

“I really missed art walk, just seeing the regular people on a regular basis,” she said. 

She’s feeling better, and this time around, the commute will be a breeze.

“When I did close the physical shop and switched to online, I said, ‘If we’re not going to be working down here, I want to be living down here,’ so we actually have an apartment right downtown, too.”

The reopened shop will feature Withers’ art on T-shirts, tanks and cards, as well as quirky gift shop finds.

The Hive, which Withers founded last year, will move from the Pepperell Mill into adjoining space. Hive members are photographers, painters and people working in mixed media. There’s room for a studio and classrooms.

“It’s a way to have a big maker space, do a little bit of everything,” Withers said. “They all can create, teach, showcase their local art or craft in a retail experience without having to pay for the full overhead of a storefront. It’s also a very supportive group where everybody kind of bounces ideas off each other.”

The last new addition is gallery space that will feature one artist or theme each month. The first show, opening on April 9, will feature David Bowie tribute art by 12 area creators.

Downtown Handmade & Vintage is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours are still being set for The Hive.

[email protected]