JACKSON, MI – In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brent and Babs Southwell moved back to Michigan and took over Brent’s father’s business, Southwell Builders, when he retired.

Upon moving back, they noticed that businesses closed earlier compared to their previous home in Colorado. As they became more involved with Northwest Community Schools through their son, they discovered other parents shared similar frustrations about limited evening social options.

So, they decided to create that space, where people can hang out and grab a drink. Their new bar, “The NayBours,” in Blackman Township has been in the works since 2023 and opened around 90 days ago, Brent said.

The Southwells call their bar a “social experiment.” Babs said that while people aren’t drinking as much as they used to, a

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