By Staff
We're about to launch into the holiday season. To many of us that brings a mixture of joy and dread.
We look forward to great times with family and friends, the annual parties and gatherings that allow us to reflect on a good year and give thanks for our many blessings, as well as remembering the reason for the season.
At the same time, thoughts of the holidays can make us anxious about preparations and, particularly, finding just the right gifts we need and want to give those we care about.
When you begin making plans for buying your holiday gifts this year, I hope you will plan to spend one day - your first shopping day - in downtown Niles.
I'm amazed when I still here people talk about “the empty storefronts in downtown Niles.” When I hear that, I know the person saying it hasn't been downtown lately. That's just not the case in downtown Niles anymore.
In fact, Downtown Niles is truly bustling.
We all know what Riverfront Cafe has meant to our city. It's one of my favorite places anywhere. It's drawing crowds from not only Niles residents, but people are coming from all over Michiana and beyond to enjoy its offerings of good food and good entertainment.
However, there's much more to downtown Niles than Riverfront Cafe.
Just next door is Meg Truesdell's Red Shoe Jewelry. If you haven't visited it, you're missing out. Meg's shop is filled with amazingly creative and beautiful jewelry of her own design and creation. I was very surprised by how affordable her jewelry is. I bought some things for my sister and sister-in-law and sent them South and both are delighted with their new one-of-the-kind necklaces, bracelets and earrings. They can't wait to come visit here so they can go to Meg's store.
Meg's store offers more than jewelry. She's also hosting jewelry-making classes for all age groups.
Across the street from Meg on Front Street is the recently-opened Briar Patch gift shop. I was in that store for the first time this week and was excited to find so many cute and creative gifts there.
Up the street on Main Street is Main Street Antiques, a very inviting store. And just up the street from there is The Bakers Needle. They have us provided several times with personalized gifts for our employees. If it can be personalized, you can find it at The Bakers Needle.
Just up from that is Sentiments, also filled with unique items that would be cherished with those on your gift list.
Across the street from Sentiments is Majerek's Readers World. Need I say more? You really need to stop in and smell the pumpkin pie-scented Yankee Candles.
While you're downtown, stop by for lunch at Pine Lake Pizza. Did you know they offer pizza by the slice?
And, of course, there's Veni's. What's a holiday in Niles without Veni's chocolates? They are so accommodating and will help prepare whatever homemade candies you want to send all over the country, if that's where you want to send them.
The personalized service you'll find in each of these stores is one of wonderful things about shopping at home. Each merchant has a vested interesting in making sure you're happy with what you find in their shops and will go the extra mile to make sure you get just what you want, how you want it. That's something you're not going to get from the Big Boxes.
Downtown Niles business people have made investments in our community and all they ask is that you give them an opportunity.
Downtown Niles merchants are busy planning a number of fun events this holiday season, the kick-off of which will be held on Dec. 3.
Before you head to the malls or to the super stores this holiday, please plan to take just one day to explore the many shops in downtown Niles.
You'll be pleasantly surprised at what a varied and quality downtown shopping district we have here, as well as the many names you can cross off your shopping lists by simply a day downtown right here at home.