By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles City Council approved the appointment, Monday night of Riverfront Cafe co-owner Bill Thislethwaite to the board of the Downtown Development Authority.
Speaking in anticipation of the appointment, Niles Main Street Director of Marketing and Administration, Lisa Croteau said Monday that "given the fact that he's a new property owner and a new business owner at one of the anchors of downtown, he's a natural fit."
Croteau added that Thistlethwaite already "has a lot of great ideas, he's got a lot of great energy."
That energy will be put to good use as the Niles Main Street/DDA also received the go-ahead to hold the first "Cruise-In" car show on Saturday, July 26 -with plans to use the lower parking lot on North Second Street.
Croteau said there would be plenty of activity going on that weekend, with additional activities and events to be announced soon.
Thislethwaite co-owns the Riverfront Cafe with his son, Andrew. Both father and son have been an "integral" part of the Niles community, Croteau said, with their foray into business with the cafe and their involvement with the annual Hunter Ice Festival.