The top story of the year reflects how far Niles businesses have come in the last year. Even a year ago, the downtown area that now houses a variety of businesses that draw customers from all over Michigan and Indiana has grown tremendously, offering more great food, products and a sense of small business pride. Many long-standing businesses also saw important growth this year, while other businesses that are a landmark to Niles continue their legacy.
According to City Administrator Ric Huff, the last half of 2016 saw strong economic growth, not just in Niles, but across the nation.
Currently, Huff said there are only two vacant storefronts in the downtown area. Due to low interest rates and an upswing in the economy, businesses owners with an interest in the Niles area seemed to increase.
Additionally, Huff said a greater number of businesses seeking to have longer hours and serve a greater customer basis arrived this year.
Looking to the future, Huff said he sees a trend in business growth being able to continue in Niles.
“The last half of 2016 has been the most active,” Huff said. “The last six months have been really quite busy with people interested in economic opportunity. I don’t see that waning in 2017 unless interest rates go crazy.”
Mayor Nick Shelton also expressed excitement about the growth of downtown businesses.
“There are fewer vacant storefronts, and more entrepreneurs showing interest in the empty and underutilized locations,” Shelton said. “If a location is vacant, it won’t be for long.”
Additionally, Shelton secured a $69,500 grant from an anonymous source to be used for building improvement for businesses in the Downtown Development District. The details are expected to be finalized in January 2017.
“Once we show a solid return with this grant, I am hopeful that more grants will follow,” Shelton said.
Shelton expressed pride in the success of small town businesses that, despite the challenges, have continued to make Niles residents proud.
“You can call it a resurgence, you can call it a comeback, but just know, good things are happening in Niles,” Shelton said.
Here’s a review of the new businesses that arrived in Niles:

Top Heavy Coffee
Top Heavy Coffee, 205 E. Main St. opened Sept. 25 to an eager crowd. Owners Eric and Wendy Halder sought to create a space in Niles where people could enjoy coffee and spend hours at a time working, studying or talking. The coffee shop offers a variety of coffee drinks, ranging from espressos and lattes to more exotic drinks like the honey cinnamon flavored miehl. The business also seeks to sell and utilize local products like Veni’s Sweet Shop chocolate, beans from MadCap roasters, music from record shop Rumor Has it and comic books from Buy Me Toys in Mishawaka, to name a few.

Trotters Barbeque & Grill
Trotters, 1125 Wayne St. opened at the beginning of October to offer a variety of delectable barbeque delights to Niles customers. Owned by Terrance and Christina Trotter the shop was inspired by Terrance’s father’s barbeque restaurant in South Bend, Frankie’s. The barbeque sauce is made from a Trotter family recipe. All the meat is smoked for 24 hours in a smoker outside the restaurant.

Julie’s Wear and Share
Julie’s Wear and Share opened Oct. 5 at 256 E. Front St. in Buchanan. The consignment shop offers a fair price on name brand clothing, as well as an opportunity for people to earn money for their unneeded clothes.

Other businesses that opened in Niles in 2016:
Resurrections Unique Home Furnishings
Fran’s Pretzels Plus
Riley’s Recycled Relics
Tacquiero Don Chepe
Jazzercise Niles
Niles Community Health Dental

Businesses that expanded:
SLR Pilates
Jim’s Smoking Cafe
Massimo’s/Front Street Pizza Pub

Projects on the horizon:
RedBud Area Fitness and Lifestyle Center
Former Riverfront Cafe to become new restaurant
Kelly’s Corner potential new apartment buildings
Earth Smart Environmental Solutions
Ultra Camp building rehabilitation project