Fire up your taste buds. The third annual Restaurant Week is set to return to Niles next week, with two brand new businesses ready for their close-up. Organized
ABC57 News in South Bend, Ind. covers all of Michiana including St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte and Marshall counties in Indiana and Berrien, Cass, Van Buren and St. Joseph counties in Mich.
A locally owned restaurant and distillery in Niles will be undergoing an extensive expansion project thanks in part to a statewide grant.
Iron Shoe Distillery, 3 N. Third St., was one of 21 businesses across Michigan awarded up to $25,000 through the Match on Main grant provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Owner Laura Tuthill said the business will use the money to expand the restaurant about 2,000-square feet of space for the kitchen, indoor dining area and to add more outdoor seating that includes a rooftop patio.
âThereâs so many days when we reach our capacity with food orders,â said owner Laura Tuthill. âSo we are excited to essentially double how much food weâre able to make at a given time to better meet the demand.â
NILES â Eighteen Niles restaurants and cafes have come together to host the area s first restaurant week event.
Beginning today and lasting through March 7, locally owned restaurants within the 49120 ZIP code will offer special menus and events at discounted prices. The structure is similar to the Downtown South Bend Restaurant Week event where each restaurant will offer its own special menu, with pricing and offerings varying depending on the restaurant.
Participating local restaurants include Apothica Teas, Niles Brewing Company, Iron Shoe Distillery, Create Bar and Grill, Front Street Pizza Pub, Veni s Sweet Shop, Wings Etc. and more.
The idea came from restaurant operators such Howard and Laura Tuthill, owners of Iron Shoe Distillery and Create Bar and Grill manager Nate Barnett, as well as community leaders with the Niles DDA Main Street and Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce in an effort to support local business that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.