A vacant Niles storefront will get a second lease on life this summer, after a group of friends decided to transform the brick building at 211 Front St. into a frozen yogurt shop.

Swirlyz Frozen Yogurt will open June 16, just in time to help customers beat the summer heat.

Once open, the shop will offer 10 different flavors of frozen yogurt, including five swirled options. Customers will also be able to choose from more than 50 different toppings, including nuts, candy, boba and various syrup options. Vegan and sugar free options will also be available.

Co-owners Tammy Gardner, of Niles, and Cindy Culver, of Osceola, Indiana, said they thought of the idea to open a frozen yogurt shop earlier this year, while both were working for a nursing home in Mishawaka.

“We enjoyed our job, but we decided to do something a little different,” Gardner said. “We wanted to switch it up.”

So the business partners quit their jobs and enlisted the help of their partners Chad Gardner and Steve Estes, who are now co-owners, to help out.

In February, they purchased the 1,000-square-foot building at 211 Front St. and have been working to get the shop up and running ever since.

Niles offered an optimum location, due to its lack of frozen yogurt options.

“To have to go down to Indiana for frozen yogurt just does not make any sense, when we have such a great community here to support our business,” Gardner said.

Additionally, the partners felt they had a chance to build upon a downtown resurgence in Niles, which has seen other new businesses established recently, including Front Street Pizza Pub and Paris Soda Co.

“We thought it would be a benefit to Niles,” Culver said. “I think overall re-building the historic part of downtown Niles and bringing business and keeping things local for the community [is beneficial].”

By Thursday morning a black tarp still veiled the windows facing Front Street, but inside the shop was beginning to take shape. A Swirlyz sign in pink and green colors leaned against a front counter.

“[The idea] is to have a place where people can come with their family and friends and just relax and enjoy frozen yogurt,” Culver said.

Those who visit the shop will be able to enjoy ice cream inside, at a table outside or get a cone to go.

Reflecting on months of work to transform the formerly vacant building, the business partners said they have received a lot of support from the downtown business owners and Lisa Croteau, the director of the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Authority.

“[They] have been such a great resource,” Gardner said. “It has been easy really to do this.”

Response to the business has been sweet so far. The business’ Facebook page is filled with comments of eager community members. 

“There are awesome comments on there from people in the community who have never met us, but wanted to support us,” Gardner said. “That is a great feeling.”

Feedback from the community is welcomed in suggestions for flavors of frozen yogurt and topping options.

While jumping into a new business venture always poses some risk, the friends said they felt confident in their experience and passion for the business. As a former director of nursing, Culver brings management experience to the table. Gardner has experience owning a business and used to operate Holistic Wellness Academy in Niles.

Culver’s boyfriend, Estes, is a former frozen yogurt shop owner and was a former owner of three other shops.

For the time being, the owners will operate the store and are not planning to hire additional employees at this time.

“It is going to be a fun, family oriented atmosphere,” Gardner said.

To go:

What:

Swirlyz Frozen Yogurt

When:

Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday

11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where:

211 Front St.