NILES TOWNSHIP — After years of teaching archery from a mobile business, husband and wife Jennifer and Scott Dawson stumbled upon a bullseye opportunity to transform a former warehouse into a brick and mortar storefront in Niles Township.

About two weeks ago, they opened Ground Zero Archery, at 2216 S. 11th St. The business will host a grand opening ceremony from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Those who attend will be able to try out the shooting range for free, as well as get a reading on how fast their bow is. There will also be a drawing for a year of free range time, and a chance to have animal mounts scored for free.

Ground Zero Archery will offer youth and adult archery classes, as well as a retail shop and gear repairs. The business also has a shooting range and elevated platform where people can practice shooting from about 8 ½ feet about the ground. There will also be a video lane for video archery. In mid-January, the business intends to offer archery leagues.

Jennifer, the owner of the business, said she began teaching classes in archery about six years ago. As a mobile business, the couple would serve customers by traveling to archery ranges or renting out church gymnasiums to give lessons. This year, the business was licensed as a company and the couple said their longtime dream to find a permanent home for the once mobile business was complete.

With a storefront open, Jennifer said those with a knack to learn archery will have more hours to practice and central location where they can ask experts advice on gear, repairs and form.

Scott, who will manage the store, said this next week they will put a few final touches on the business, including adding foliage to the archery range. By January, he said a live tree and simulated mountainside will complete the range’s scenery.

“We wanted a rough, rustic look,” Scott said. “People like to shoot around trees and through picket fences, because it makes it more of a challenge.”

Jennifer and Scott have long shared a love of archery and the outdoors. They even have a pair of matching archery bows, which Scott purchased for them as a gift. Their daughter, 12-year-old Mya Dawson, also takes part in the sport and the family enjoys shooting and bow fishing together. 

The couple compete in archery competitions and serve as chapter leaders for the Mounted Archery Association of the Americas. With the intent to share their passion for the sport with the community, they also donate time to Berrien County sportsmen clubs.

“We try to be ambassadors for all the archery disciplines and sports, so we volunteer a lot of time and our equipment to help further that, especially with the youth,” Scott said.

As far as choosing Niles Township for their business, Jenifer and Scott said they saw a community need.

“Our customer base has asked for it,” Jennifer said. “Just having a place to go to practice. [There] are very few places … where you can go and get an elevated shooting range for practice.”

As far as their hopes for the business, Scott said they wish to spur a greater interest in the sport and help people cultivate their passions and interests for the sport, whether it’s hunting or learning how to shoot a bow and arrow while riding a horse.

“I just want first timers to walk through this door and you know pick up a bow and start shooting and see how fun and how enjoyable it is and just continue,” he said. “We are just looking to teach and expand archery. It does not matter what you want or what you want to do. If you come here, we will help you find it and we will help you perfect it.”

Ground Zero Archery is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, though these hours could be subject to change. To learn more about Ground Zero Archery, visit groundzeroarchery.com or check out their Facebook page at facebook.com/pg/GroundZeroArchery/posts/?ref=page_internal.