By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The trend of female business owners continues on North Front Street, with the opening of Briar Patch - Nature Designs, at 222 N. Front St., in downtown Niles, just across from the Riverfront Cafe.
The business, which is owned by Becki Gracey and Julie Hoch, celebrated its grand opening Thursday with members of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce and city officials.
Gracey and Hoch have nursing backgrounds, but decided to get into a different kind work providing a different kind of stress.
Briar Patch - Nature Designs features gifts and products inspired by natures with the focus on northern decor.
Gracey and Hoch wanted to open the business as a way to give back to the community and also because there really isn't a store of its kind in the Niles area.
They also wanted to have a store where people could pop in if they were looking for a last-minute gift and weren't looking to spend too much.
Gracey added they hope to keep people coming to the downtown area as they have been.
City officials and chamber members welcomed Gracey and Hoch with words of encouragement.
Gracey added it was a fluke they were able to get the building.
Doug Law, chairman of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce board welcomed the new business owners saying as a member of the chamber there is a lot of support and wished them the best of luck.
Rep. Neal Nitz, R-Baroda added, the small businesses are the backbone of Michigan and congratulated Gracey and Hoch on opening their store.