By Staff
Lisa Croteau, who leads Niles Downtown Development Authority/Main Street organization, recently forwarded to our newsroom a copy of an article listing important reasons for shopping in our downtown. We ran those recently in our newspapers.
The article is something fitting for every community in which Leader Publications publishes a newspaper – Niles, Dowagiac, Cassopolis and Edwardsburg.
Lisa got the article from shopmainstreet.org. It points out that Americans love Mom and Pop shops – and you know we do. Remember how excited you became the last time you wandered into a store that had something special -something beyond the same-old same-old offerings of every big box store.
Along with the article, Lisa sent a listing of all of the businesses operating in downtown Niles. When I saw them all together, they were staggering.
For those of you who continue to insist, "There's nothing in downtown Niles!" I thought it would be beneficial to publish that list. Here it goes:
Specialty Shops
Red Shoe Jewelry &Apparel
216 E Main Street/684-1244
Roncari-Thayer Jewelers
224 E Main Street/683-2616
Veni's Sweet Shop
228 E. Main Street/684-1323
Sue's Hallmark
312 E Main Street/683-1689
Sentiments
307 E Main Street/684-1556
The Baker's Needle
306 E Main Street/683-1008
AA Comics &Dive Shop
301 E Main/687-9056
Your Kitchen Connection
225 E Main Street/687-0880
Signal Travel
219 E Main Street/684-2880
Joyce's Scrubs &Gifts
213 E Main Street/687-8475
Cycle &Fitness
211 E Main Street/684-2000
Manifesto
209 E Main Street/362-4971
The Doll Shop
203 E Main Street/684-1004
Red Purl
207 N 2nd Street/684-0411
'Cross the Street Collectibles
209 N 2nd Street / 269- 684-6129
The Basement
211 N 2nd Street/687-8800
Color Me Christian
101 E Main Street/687-9133
Skatrix
117 N 2nd Street/687-5283
Ridge Kramer Auto Parts
25 Sycamore Street/683-6750
The Good News Shop
214 N 2nd Street/683-5080
Antiques
Main Street Antique Mall
109 E Main Street/684-9393
Four Flags Antique Mall
218 N 2nd Street/683-6681
Galleries
Frame of Mind
215 E Main Street/683-3610
2nd Street Gallery
127 E Main Street/684-2626
General Merchandise
Rite Aid
11 S 11th Street/684-6556
Family Dollar Store
90 E Main Street/683-4522
Dollar General
410 N 2nd Street/687-8141
Salons
Tippy Toes
127 E Main Street/684-3394
Joseph Scott Salon
218 N. Front Street/683-4923
Off Main Street Salon
225 N 4th Street/683-2288
Fiesta Hair &Tanning
30 E Main Street/683-9764
The Shoppe
227 E Main Street/684-2839
Lipstick Jungle
404 E Main Street/683-7500
A Cut Above
311 5th Street
Bob the Barber
118 N 2nd Street
Emmett's Barber Shop
17 N 2nd Street
Hibiskie Barber
115 N 2nd Street
Maries Hair Salon
110 S 11th Street/683-4744
Michiana Tattoo Emporium
116 S 11th Street/683-3383
Maui Tan
1002 S 11th Street/683-5000
Salon Artistry
1011 Broadway/683-0936
Eateries
County Down Pastries &Deli
115 N 3rd Street/687-1750
El Amigo Pepe
201 5th Street/683-1942
The Nuggett
202 E Main Street/683-8788
Hob Nob Bistro
206 E Main Street/683-6244
Massimo's Pizzeria
20 E Main Street/697-4992
The Paris Soda Shop
220 E Main Street/687-5975
Le Rendezvous
127 E Main Street
Subway
904 E Main Street/684-7820
Brew Ha Ha
920 Broadway/684-5080
Bars
The Stein &Vine
205 N 2nd Street/683-8463
Port of Call
217 5th Street/683-7388
Honey's
405 N 2nd Street/683-8297
Rental Hall
The Bell Building
305 Sycamore Street/684-2100
Entertainment
The Wonderland Theater
402 N Front Street/684-2222
Miscellaneous
Rub A Dub Doggy
15 N 2nd Street/687-8663
Raven's Upholstery
207 Cedar Street/362-4449
Lessons
Niles Academy of Performing Arts
214 N 2nd Street/683-5080
ATA Karate
217 E Main Street/683-4007
Tam @ Le Rendezvous
127 E Main Street
Markets
Hardings
407 Broadway/683-4666
Save A Lot
410 N 2nd/683-0247
7 Days Party Store
303 N 5th Street/683-7544
Photography
Prestige Portraits
218 Front Street/683-3358
Christine Allynne Photography
404 E Main Street/683-4506
Personal Services
Clear Choice Chiropractic
109 N 3rd Street/683-6000
Healthzone Chiropractic
70 E Main Street/683-6354
Sacred Spaces
210 E Main Street/684-0488
Body Elements
210 E Main Street/930-2206
Therapeutic Massage
20 N 3rd Street/683-6148
LB Physical Therapy
333 N 2nd Street/687-9110
Banks
Chemical Bank *ATM
407 E Main Street/683-2010
Greater Niles Federal Credit Union *ATM
507 E Main Street/684-6005
1st Source Bank
127 E Main Street/684-1283
LaSalle Bank *ATM
333 N 2nd Street/683-6200
United Federal Credit Union *ATM
123 Sycamore Street/684-1151
5/3rd Bank *ATM
322 Broadway 683-4539
Isn't that impressive? Our downtown is becoming quite vibrant, as residents return to putting much-needed emphasis on families and communities.
As most of you know, today is the 16th annual Hometown Christmas Celebration, which culminates with the lighting of our historic Amtrak Depot. Festivities, including refreshments and entertainment, are planned from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
If you've had a hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year, maybe attending this wonderful Niles tradition will do the trick.