By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC – When the new year arrived Tuesday, Dowagiac had a new place to go to pick up fishing supplies.
On Jan. 1, Big Buck's Bait opened at the former Ski's Frontier Sporting Goods location on Klumbis Road between Dowagiac and Niles.
Friends Denise Deming and sons Bill and Davis, along with friend Tami Davis, will fulfill a life-long dream of their late father Jim "Buck" Deming when the doors open for real.
"Years ago we talked about opening our own shop," Denise Deming said of the plan she and Buck had. "Even after he passed away, we still wanted to fulfill that dream."
Denise, Bill and David knew plenty about the sporting good business from being around Joe Guntle's Outdoor Outfitters, where Denise worked for many years.
Denise met Davis at the Moose playing bingo and the two "clicked" according to the pair.
"Things just fell into place," Davis noted.
From there, Big Bucks Bait took off.
Davis started scouting around for a location and even secured a loan from husband Lee to get the venture off the ground.
"We first looked at the old store on Marcellus Highway and Twin Lakes Road," Denise said. "Tami began searching and she talked with the owners of Sandy Acres because they were going out of business."
The two settled on the former sporting goods store – Ski's Frontier.
Things really took off in the fall and the business is nearly ready for its grand opening on New Year's Day.
Big Buck's Baits will primarily feature fishing gear for the time being.
There will be assorted baits, tackle and ice fishing supplies with licenses for sale in April of 2008.
According to Davis, the business will expand to include hunting gear, "hopefully by the fall," she said.
Big Buck's Bait will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
They can be reached at 782-0269, (269) 462-1579 or (269) 845-0149.
You can also drop them a line via e-mail at bigbucksbait-shop@yahoo.com.