A DINING DESTINATION Niles Main Street DDA focused on food

DINING destination Niles’ Main Street developing into a foodie’s paradise

Story by Ambrosia Neldon Photos by Emily Sobecki

In a brick building at 3 N. Third St. in Niles, cocktails and gourmet burgers are served where customers once waited to have their brakes aligned. The sound of clanking wrenches has been replaced by clinking glasses, the churn of engines by the hum of conversation.

When Iron Shoe Distillery owners Howard and Laura Tuthill announced in 2018 they would be transforming a former muffler shop into a distillery, many were skeptical, unable to see the vision the Tuthills had for not only the space, but the City of Niles.

Less than two blocks away, another young couple, Melanie and Donny Kennedy had not long before welcomed the community to experience their own transformation. The pair had converted a dilapidated, historic Elks Lodge into an elegant event center called the Fifty5 at The Grand LV. Today, the smell of fresh-baked Italian pastries, homemade soup and cappuccinos emanates from a corner of the building’s main floor. The world-class Italian bakery is one of the latest in a long line of entrepreneurs to buy into the vision for the next chapter of downtown Niles.

Within walking distance, hungry shoppers can find a large menu of items ranging from barbecue to authentic ramen, and not one, but three pizza shops, each offering its own take on America’s favorite pie. Downtown Niles is also home to a restaurant specializing in gluten free options as well as a full-service frozen yogurt bar, and will soon be home to a local brewery.

This trend in all things culinary was no happy accident, but rather an organized effort on behalf of Niles Main Street, the city’s downtown development authority. Born out of an effort with the national Main Street organization designed to revitalize downtowns, the DDA developed a transformational study based on community interests and data supporting what was feasible in the district.

Niles Main Street Director Lisa Croteau said by and large, the Niles community responded that it wanted food, which supported efforts already in place to serve food-centered businesses.

“In a world where you can buy anything you want off the internet, specialty dining is something you can’t buy off the internet,” Croteau said. “What we’ve learned is that if you have a wonderful food destination experience, people will go. They’ll go if there’s one place — they’ll go often if there’s more.”

Building on businesses like Pizza Transit, The Brass Eye and The Nuggett, which had already been serving food in downtown Niles for years, the DDA began to focus its efforts on recruiting more food businesses — everything from restaurants and bars to bakeries and wine shops.

Instead of actively pursuing entrepreneurs and begging them to come to town, Croteau said the DDA has focused on making the downtown district an appealing place to move, investing from other parts of the in the existing “The biggest recruiters country who chose to businesses and buildings. “The biggest to our town are our current businesses. move Niles to launch their business. H a i l i n g f r o m recruiters to our Before anyone says Colorado, Laura and tow n a re ou r current businesses,” she said. they’re going to start a business, they go out Howard Tuthill relocated to the Michiana area, where Laura grew “Before anyone looking and scouting. up, and chose to open says they’re going What do they like? their distillery in a to start a business, they go out looking and scouting. What Where do they feel at home?” former muffler shop. “I think the city is very business positive,” do they like? Where LISA CROTEAU, DIRECTOR said Howard Tuthill, do they feel at home?” OF NILES MAIN STREET co-owner. “They’re literally an open door for

As it turns out, anyone and anything the answer for that wants to come many entrepreinto downtown Niles neurs has been “Niles.” Since the Niles and will do anything they can to help Main Street board committed to the the potential businesses out and be a food-focused transformational strategy resource for them.” in 2017, it has welcomed businesses Desyree Alberganti, owner of Gabrizio launched not only by locals, but by people Italian Café and Bakery, recreated a shop

she owned in Las Vegas inside a recently renovated event center.

Other businesses that have opened since 2017 include Jim’s Smokin’ Café at the Paris Soda Co., Front Street Pizza Pub, Swirlyz Frozen Yogurt, Healthy Habits, The Rage and CJ’s Pizza. Niles Brewing Co., a locally owned microbrewery, aims to be open by the end of the year.

Croteau attributes the momentum and success of the downtown district to the positive atmosphere and team spirit of Niles business owners.

“We have the greatest group of business owners I’ve had the privilege of working with in 20 years,” she said. “I don’t believe there’s anyone that doesn’t see themselves as a part of something bigger. There’ve been many times that it was an all about me kind of attitude. Now, it’s about growing this community, and I do believe everybody can see what really can happen when you work together.”