By By ANDY HAMILTON / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES – Since he was a freshman at Niles High School, Jeremy Bayles knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur.
The 27-year-old Niles resident also knew from early on he wanted to pursue his dreams in his hometown.
Bayles recently broke ground on his first entrepreneurial project, a Wings, Etc. Restaurant and Pub at 2008 S. 11th St.
"I'm dedicated and committed to this town. I always have been. I never intended to leave this area," said Bayles, who lives and also owns a rental property in Niles.
Aside from a few years in college, Bayles said he has lived in Niles his whole life.
Both his parents were educators in the Dowagiac public school system.
His mother Elaine was an elementary teacher and his father Don taught at the junior high, Bayles said.
Bayles said he decided on a business career path his first year of high school.
The 1998 Viking alumnus followed through on his plan and earned an associate degree in business administration from Southwestern Michigan College and graduated from Ferris State University in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and international business.
Since college, Bayles said he has held positions as a sales manager for Aaron's and an account manager for Rent A Center.
He said it was last year when he bought the Wings, Etc. franchise rights to Niles. The president of Wings, Etc., Inc. is Jim Weaver of Niles, and Bayles said the owners of the three Elkhart Wings, Etc. are from Fort Wayne, Ind.
Since obtaining the franchise, Bayles has purchased property in the Niles Plaza across the street from Lowe's.
He had the house on the site demolished, obtained a liquor license and secured necessary permits from Niles Charter Township.
Work on the foundation of the new 4,000-square-foot Wings, Etc. will begin in about two weeks, Bayles said.
The "family-oriented sports bar" could be open for business as early as April 1, he added. "No joke. No April Fools about it," Bayles said.
Lemacks Construction of Elkhart and Welsh &Sons Electric have both been hired for the job, Bayles said.
When completed, the main entrance of the building will face south, Bayles said. The two entrances to the Niles Plaza will remain, however the north entrance will serve mostly as a pick-up area and will have some parking spaces.
Additional parking is being added where the house once stood and, Bayles said, a retention pond will sit between that lot and the back parking lot of the Southwestern Medical Clinic.
Inside the Wings, Etc. will be a family dining section and a bar area, which are split by a "zig-zaggy" separation wall, Bayles said. The sports bar will also have a video game room, he added.
The 50-foot bar will house more than 50 brands of beer, and will be surrounded by 11 21-inch televisions.
A large-screen TV will be part of the family dining area, Bayles said.
"Of course, we're famous for the chicken wings, but we also have in-house smoked ribs and rib tips," Bayles said. Wings, Etc. has been voted Best Wings in Michiana for 12 years in a row.
Other food choices include burgers, sandwiches, salads, seafood, appetizers and a children's menu, he added.
To open the Niles Wings, Etc., Bayles said he will hire 70 to 75 people, including two to three assistant managers.
Most non-manager positions will be part time, which Bayles said should cater to people who are in school or want to work a few days each week.