By By SPIROS GALLOS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Just in time for the holiday shopping season, the new Niles Lowe's Home Improvement opened its doors Wednesday.
But the 116,000 square foot store brings more to the Niles area than a large selection of home improvement products, it brings a welcome boost to the local economy.
In addition to the approximately 150 jobs the store brings to the area, Sather said the added traffic of customers visiting Lowe's will have a positive effect on other retailers and local restaurants.
With the opening of the new Lowe's store, Sather feels it will make Niles a more attractive location for other companies looking to expand to the area.
Niles Township Supervisor William Myers said he thinks the store will have an overall positive effect on the community as well, and also offered some insight into the township board's plans for the future.
Myers said the township is currently looking into the possibility of putting water lines along both sides of South 11th Street from Fort Street to the Michigan-Indiana state line.
The township currently has a water line running along 13th Street which will service Brandywine Middle-High School once improvements to the school's water system are completed.
The line also runs along Bell Road from the intersection with 13th Street to the intersection of 11th Street and Bell Road. Businesses located near the 11th Street intersection are serviced by the line.
Lowe's further extended the line so the new store could draw from the water line as well.
Other businesses located along South 11th Street in Niles Township are currently supplied with well water. The new lines would allow those businesses to have access to a municipal water source.
Myers said some businesses have backed out of moving to the township because of the lack of water lines.
Myers said the benefits of the project would be numerous. In addition to attracting more businesses to Niles Township, the new water lines would lower insurance rates and raise the property value long South 11th Street.
The new Lowe's store will also attract customers from nearby communities as well as local shoppers.
When asked why she was shopping at the new Lowe's, Galien resident Cindy Dishaw said, "Because it's easier than driving to Grape Road (in Mishawaka, Ind.)."
But for all the benefits the store is expected to bring to the area, the opening day was particularly special for the employees.
The grand opening celebration festivities will continue through Sunday with free "how to" clinics being offered at the store.
Kids will also be able to get into the grand opening celebration with Lowe's Build and Grow Kids' Clinics which will run through Sunday.
Saturday, visitors to the store will be able to test their driving skills from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the Team Lowe's No. 48 Racing Simulator The Team Lowe's SpongeBob Monster Truck will also be at the store from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, visitors will be able to get their picture taken with the Team Lowe's No. 48 Nextel Cup race car.