Shopping

Southeast Wisconsin offers many unique specialty stores and shopping venues, including, increasingly, pop-ups. Several communities have transformed their downtowns into go-to shopping destinations, including Cedar Creek Settlement in Ozaukee County, Delafield's Milwaukee Street in Waukesha County, Whitefish Bay's East Silver Spring Drive in northern Milwaukee County, Wauwatosa Village in western Milwaukee County, and Greendale's Broad Street in southern Milwaukee County. Within the city of Milwaukee there are many eclectic and trendy shops, with several shopping districts of note: The Historic Third Ward, south of downtown; Cathedral Square on the East Side; and Downer Avenue, northeast of the downtown area. 

Upscale shopping is offered at a Nordstrom store located at Mayfair Mall, the region’s largest and most popular shopping mall located on Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa; Von Maur has a retail presence at The Corners of Brookfield (thecornersofbrookfield.com), which is located at Goerke’s Corners in Brookfield.

The Corners is one of several mixed-use developments that feature a blend of shops, restaurants, residential living and offices. Similar developments include The Mayfair Collection (mayfaircollection.net), located in Wauwatosa; Bayshore Town Center in Glendale; 84 South, located off I-894 in Greenfield; and Drexel Town Square (drexeltownsquare.com) in Oak Creek. Oak Creek is also home to the state’s first IKEA.

Traditional indoor shopping malls in the area, besides Mayfair, are Brookfield Square and Southridge Mall. Three outlet malls are also located in the region: Johnson Creek Premium Outlets, which is midway between Milwaukee and Madison; Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets, located south of Milwaukee near the Illinois state line; and Gurnee Mills, which is located in northern Illinois.

Third Ward’s ‘Central Station’

The Milwaukee Public Market is a unique downtown food, shopping and social nexus. Filled with unique selections of artisan and ethnic products, freshly made foods and eating areas, it is one of Milwaukee’s premier destinations, attracting more than 1.7 million visitors per year.  
The market also showcases a variety of cooking classes in The Madame Kuony Demonstration Kitchen. Instructors include Public Market vendors, local chefs and nationally known cookbook authors.
Located in the Historic Third Ward, just south of downtown, the market is easily accessible by car (parking lot available), walking, biking and Milwaukee’s streetcar, The Hop, which has a stop just outside the entrance. Open seven days a week (10 am to 8 pm weekdays, 8 am to 8 pm Saturdays, and 9 am to 6 pm Sundays; some stores have extended hours). milwaukeepublicmarket.org

Regional Shopping Malls

Bayshore Town Center: 5800 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale; more than 125 stores and 25 eateries. Major tenants: Apple, Athleta, Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body Works, The Cheesecake Factory, Gap, H&M, Kohl's, LOFT, Old Navy, Paper Source, Trader Joe's. Telephone: (414) 963-8780; Website: thebayshorelife.com

Brookfield Square: 95 N. Moorland Rd., Brookfield; 125+ stores. Major Tenants: Barnes & Noble, BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Ethan Allen, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, JC Penney, LOFT, Movie Tavern by Marcus, Mitchell’s Fish Market, The North Face, WhirlyBall. Telephone: (262) 797-7245; Website: shopbrookfieldsquaremall.com

Mayfair Mall: 2500 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa. More than 160 stores. Major Tenants: Alex and Ani, Apple, bareMinerals, Build-A-Bear, The Cheesecake Factory, The Container Store, Crate & Barrel, Eddie Bauer, L'Occitane en Provence, Macy's, Madewell, Nordstrom, P.F. Chang's, Pottery Barn, Sephora, Williams Sonoma. Telephone: (414) 771-1300; Website: mayfairmall.com

Southridge Mall: 5300 S. 76th St., Greendale; Major Tenants: Bath & Body Works, Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy, Explorium Brew Pub, Foot Locker, Francesca's, JC Penney, Macy's, Marcus BistroPlex, Milano Fashions. Telephone: (414) 421-5600; Website: simon.com/mall/southridge-mall

Outlet Malls

Gurnee Mills:  I-94 and Rt. 132, Gurnee, IL; 200+ stores. Major tenants: Macy's, H&M, Guess Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger Company Store, Abercrombie & Fitch Outlet, Disney Outlet, Floor & Decor, Gap Outlet, Guess Factory Store, Nike Factory Store, Rainforest Café, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Kohl's, Marcus Cinema, indoor ice skating, and miniature golf.  Telephone: (847) 263-7500; Website: simon.com/mall/gurnee-mills

Johnson Creek Premium Outlets:  I-94 and Hwy. 26, Exit 267, Johnson Creek, WI; 60 stores. Major merchants: Adidas, American Eagle Outfitters, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, Bath & Body Works, Coach, Columbia, Eddie Bauer Outlet, Gap Factory Store, Loft Outlet, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Talbot's, and Under Armour. Telephone: (920) 699-4111; Website: premiumoutlets.com/outlet/johnson-creek

Mayfair Collection: Hwy. 45 and Burleigh Road, Wauwatosa, WI; 20+ stores and restaurants. Major tenants: Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW, Home Goods, Men's Warehouse, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, TJ Maxx and Whole Foods. Telephone: (414) 258-6581; Website: mayfaircollection.net

Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets: I-94 and Hwy. 165, Pleasant Prairie; more than 90 brand-name stores. Major tenants: Coach, Kate Spade New York, The North Face, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss Factory Store, J. Crew, Nike Factory Store, Under Armour, Polo Ralph Lauren, UGG Australia and Cole Haan. Telephone: (262) 857-2101; Website: premiumoutlets.com/outlet/pleasant-prairie