DOWAGIAC — On a Thursday morning, Eau Claire resident Dylan Gatties arranges a set of bottles on the desk in front of him, as he gets ready the day’s customers at his downtown Dowagiac store.

“We have something here for most everybody,” he said, showing off a long line of decorated e-juice bottles. “We have one of the bigger varieties and flavors. That is really something that sets me apart.”

The Vape Saloon recently opened in downtown Dowagiac. The store, located at 226 S. Front Street, sells specialty vape products. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

“I only carry top of the line E-juice and electronic cigarette devices, or vaping devices,” Gatties said.

At just 22 years old, Gatties said he opened The Vape Saloon to early success. Eventually, he said he hopes to open more businesses, but for right now, he is focused on growing the Vape Saloon.

“It’s crazy. We have already had a ton of people here … probably double what we were expecting,” he said. “Owning a business has been a life-long dream for me. I’m excited to finally be able to that here, in the perfect location.”

He decided to open his first store in Dowagiac because he believed the market called for it, Gatties said.

“I saw a need for this, because the closest place you have something like this is in Niles,” he said. “I’ve heard so many people in Dowagiac say, ‘Oh, I wish there was a vape shop here.’ … I brought out the juices and the products that are popular in places like Chicago or Grand Rapids here.”

Gatties believes that The Vape Saloon will be a success in Dowagiac, not only because he is fulfilling a niche in the area, but also because he believes in the products he sells. Gatties has been vaping for many years, eventually turning to vaping to quit smoking, something vaping has been shown in preliminary studies to assist with.

“When I first started, I did a ton of research to make sure that this was going to be safer than cigarettes, and I am more than confident to back this stuff 100 percent,” Gatties said. “I think this will save lives, and I want to be able to provide a way for people to quit smoking in an area that is convient.”

The customers have also been excited about the prospect of having a local alternative to cigarettes, Gatties said.

“People have been confirming my reason for doing this. One guy even came in the other day and told me that I would be saving lives by doing this,” Gatties said. “That was really cool. It keeps me going.”

Hoping that the people of Dowagiac will continue to respond positively to The Vape Saloon, Gatties said he would encourage anyone to come to the store and see what he is trying to do.

“We are really just trying to fill a service for the area,” he said. “We are going to keep one step ahead always. We are always going to have the best flavors and devices to offer the best experience for our customers.”