NILES — Niles native Michael Reed began Custom Computer Company in his basement, providing a handful of local businesses information technology support and consulting. Now, he has provided staff, expanded services and a free community center to more than 100 businesses and hundreds of customers at his 603 N. Second St. location in Niles.

This summer, he has expanded once again. Reed purchased the Bell Building at 305 N. Third St. earlier this month. After renovations, he will continue to rent out its event space as Reed’s Rental Hall while using an empty office space downstairs for Custom Computer Company work.

He plans to move his company’s IT and office presence in December. Reed will honor all event bookings through December, close down the event space in January for renovations and then open it again in February.

The company’s presence a few blocks away at 603 N. Second St. will not disappear, however. Its Custom Community Center will still offer computer access, gameplay, a projector and seating in a more dedicated space under a nonprofit largely funded through the company, Reed said. All of its services will continue to be free.

Reed said his mindset of compassionate capitalism came from his grandfather, a Niles entrepreneur who owned two Dairy Queen locations in town.

“I feel like I have the same mindset he does,” Reed said. “The more you can do, the more you can give.  So, as long as I can keep doing, I can keep giving.”

He said his wife allowed his entrepreneurial visions to become realities. Without her support in his ventures, some risky, he said the Bell Building purchase and community center expansion would not have come to fruition.

On a Friday afternoon, the sound of video game power-ups occasionally rang from the consoles two young adults sat in front of. Meanwhile, a mother and child stopped in to pick up the keys for Reed’s Rental Hall. A Custom Computer Company employee helped a client over the phone in front of snacks that community center users could purchase for a few quarters.

Whether it is the local Fortnite group, an adult with a job application to type out, students with a school project or a business needing meeting space, the Custom Community Center will be become better suited for its services by keeping business and nonprofit space separate, Reed said.

The expansion was two years in the making. Reed said he had always loved the look the Bell Building had and the office space it offered. He believes some quick renovations can make the space modern and more usable.

“The floor gets stained in one section, they put a piece of laminate over it,” he said about previous renovation methods. “There’s water stains on one part, so they decide to carpet over it. We want to do a wood floor throughout and kind of restore what was there.”

Reed plans to replace old chandeliers with modern dimming LED lights and provide sound equipment as well.

He also wants to minimize noise complaints he said the Bell Building has received over the years.

“Right now, there’s parties going on until 4 a.m., and that’s not acceptable for anywhere,” he said. “So, we’re going to have a lot more strict rules, security, cameras, and we’re going to really clean up the entire building. I think it’s going to be structured better.”

The event space’s rental and fee systems are also set to change. Previously, Creditors’ Service Bureau of Niles, which is located in a second basement office space in the Bell Building, would receive all rental inquiries. Reed said prices for events would fluctuate.

Now, Custom Computer Company has a dedicated phone number for rentals, (269) 999-6320, and will have a set fee schedule.

“It’s going to be just like the computer shop,” Reed said. “We’re going to be very transparent with our pricing. We’re going to post them. We’re not going to hide. There’s not going to be secrets.”

As Reed works to reopen the Bell Building with updated rooms and new occupants, he is also seeking sponsors for his community center and volunteers to staff it into the evenings. His goal is to offer study space for students after school.