By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Golden Nugget, one of downtown Niles' oldest restaurants still in business, is getting a face-lift – and a new name.
Work on the front and side of the "The Nugget" began on Oct. 1 and is scheduled to be complete by Oct. 14. Jim Flood, owner of Flood Construction of Calumet, said the plan is to bring the storefront back to its original historical character.
He explained that work has included removing the old barn wood, which was put up in the 1980s, to expose the original brick. Also, being restored are four windows on the second floor, which have been closed for some time.
The second story is also being converted into an apartment, but Flood explained his company is not responsible for that work.
A nice feature will be the upper and lower cornices, which Flood explained, are architectural elements on the top of buildings. Most of the buildings downtown have them right now, but Flood said the one on the restaurant will be a little larger.
Owner Dave Dulemba has also decided to change the name of the restaurant from the Golden Nugget to The Nugget and plans to put up a new sign on the front of the building.
One great feature Flood discovered was the old iron window hood, which he said will stay. The window hoods act as a guard when it's raining and helps keep rain away from the window. "That was a nice surprise as you don't see those much at all anymore," he said.
Flood, who has been in the construction business for years, said he is excited to have the chance to do the restoration work on the building.
"I actually got this job through a friend of mine who told me about it. Facade work is my specialty, especially historical work. Calumet is a very historical town and I have done a lot of work there. Both Calumet and Niles are similar in that they are trying to bring the historical character and feel back," Flood said.
Rachel Harris and Lorain Roberts were on their way into The Nugget Friday afternoon for lunch. They said it's great to see work being done to it and both think it's another project that will make the downtown shine.
"I'm glad they (the restaurant) are doing this. Lorain and I have eaten lunch here at least once a month for the past two years and it's great to see the updates. Downtown is looking much better," Harris said.
"I think the new look will also attract more diners, which will be good for the restaurant," Roberts added.
Flood is no stranger to the Niles area as he lived here for 25 years, attended St. Mary's and Ballard for elementary school. In high school, he went to South Bend, St. Joseph.
"I grew up right on Niles-Buchanan Road so I am very familiar with the area. It's nice to be back and be able to do work in the town I grew up in," he said.
He said work on the restaurant will look a lot different than what it did and he believes the people of the community will be very pleased.
"People are always stopping and looking. They know work is being done. It's going to be a big improvement," Flood added.