The owner of Trailhead Mercantile in downtown Niles wants to open a high-end cocktail lounge at the former Stein & Vine wine bar on North Second Street in downtown Niles.

On Monday, Bryan Williams asked the Niles City Council for a $25,000 loan from the city’s revolving loan fund in order to make a down payment on the building.

Juan Ganum, community development director, said the city’s loan revue team would examine Williams’ request and bring a recommendation before the council as soon as the council’s first meeting in November.

The name of the new cocktail lounge would be The Brass Eye. Williams said it would take advantage of the recent craft cocktail/whiskey and local food trends by specializing in unique cocktails made with fresh local ingredients and mid- to top-shelf spirits.

It is an idea the 1993 Niles High School graduate has had since coming back to the city to open up Trailhead Mercantile in 2010.

“I want a place that I would want to go to for a cocktail and I haven’t found that yet around here,” he said.

In a document presented to the council Monday, Williams wrote that for the past four years he has been studying craft cocktails and has received his BarSmarts bartender education and certification from Pernod Ricard USA.

He also wrote that he has become friends and keeps contact with some of the top mixologists in Las Vegas from whom he will seek advice and guidance to help make The Brass Eye a success.

“I have already proven that I can keep a viable business downtown and I believe I have also proven that I am here to try to make Niles a better place through my volunteer efforts,” he wrote.

A focus of the new venture will be on the art and history of the cocktail.

“It is a gap in Michiana that has yet to be filled,” he wrote.

If the city approves the loan request, Williams said he would like to have the place open by January 2015. Williams would also need to get the liquor license transfer approved.