By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Add a new strip mall to the long list of new business developments popping up around the Niles area in the coming months.
The property immediately north of the old Shula's 31 Bowl building on S. 11th in Niles Township will soon be turned into a 15,000 square foot strip mall.
John Libertowski, who co-owns the property with Gus Thanos, said the development will be used for multi-tenant retail and office purposes.
The size of the tenant spaces will vary from around 1,500 to 5,000 square feet or possibly even bigger, depending on the use.
Although there are no definite tenants lined up yet, Libertowski said there has been some interest generated in the property.
Being in the early stages of the development, he said they are pretty flexible with the types of businesses that could be located in the strip mall.
But, Libertowski does have a few ideas in mind.
The building will have a lighthouse style look and a name to go along with that appearance. Libertowski mentioned the possibilities of Lighthouse Village or Lighthouse Pointe.
The Mishawaka, Ind. based Van Vooren Construction began working on the development in mid-June.
So far, crews have cleared the property, prepared it for the laying of the foundation and will make the first concrete pour sometime today, said project manager Mark Groshans.
The steel for the project is expected to arrive in a couple weeks.
Libertowski anticipates an opening date of late September or early October.
The two owners of the strip mall also own the lot located directly to north, but have not yet decided if that property will be developed as well.