Shopping
Shopping
Southeast Wisconsin offers shopping experiences ranging from major retail centers and outlet destinations to walkable downtown districts filled with independent boutiques, specialty shops, restaurants and locally owned businesses. Pop-up shops, makers markets and seasonal shopping events add even more variety throughout the year.
Several communities have developed particularly attractive walkable shopping districts, including Cedarburg and Cedar Creek Settlement in Ozaukee County; downtown Delafield in Waukesha County; East Silver Spring Drive in Whitefish Bay; The Village in Wauwatosa; and Historic Downtown Greendale along Broad Street.
Within Milwaukee, some of the best-known shopping areas include the Historic Third Ward, with boutiques, galleries and the Milwaukee Public Market; East Town and Cathedral Square downtown; and Downer Avenue on the city’s East Side.
For major retail shopping, Mayfair in Wauwatosa remains one of the region’s primary destinations and is home to Nordstrom, Macy’s, Apple, Crate & Barrel, The Container Store and numerous specialty retailers and restaurants. Nordstrom is indeed still there.
The region also has several open-air and mixed-use shopping destinations. The Corners of Brookfield combines shopping, dining, entertainment and residential living and is anchored by Von Maur. Other destinations include The Mayfair Collection in Wauwatosa, BAYSHORE in Glendale, 84South in Greenfield and Drexel Town Square in Oak Creek. BAYSHORE continues to include retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Kohl’s and Trader Joe’s.
Oak Creek is also home to Wisconsin’s only IKEA, located just off I-94 at 7500 S. IKEA Way.
Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water St., Milwaukee
Located in the Historic Third Ward, the Milwaukee Public Market is one of downtown Milwaukee’s most popular destinations—a lively combination of food market, specialty shopping and gathering place. Independent merchants offer everything from artisan cheese, chocolates, spices and wine to fresh seafood, meats, baked goods and prepared foods.
The Market’s Madame Kuony Demonstration Kitchen hosts cooking classes and culinary events, while indoor and outdoor seating makes the market an easy place to stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks.
Its Third Ward location makes it especially accessible for visitors exploring downtown. The Market can be reached by car, bicycle, on foot and via The Hop streetcar, which stops nearby.
Regional Shopping Centers
BAYSHORE
5800 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale
An open-air, mixed-use town center combining shopping, dining, entertainment, community events and residential living. Retailers include national brands alongside restaurants and services, with Trader Joe’s, Kohl’s and Barnes & Noble among the prominent tenants.
Brookfield Square
95 N. Moorland Rd., Brookfield
A major shopping, dining and entertainment destination serving Milwaukee’s western suburbs. In addition to traditional retail, the Brookfield Square area has evolved into an entertainment and restaurant destination with attractions and dining surrounding the mall.
Mayfair
2500 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa
One of Wisconsin’s largest shopping destinations, Mayfair combines department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants and entertainment. Current retailers include Nordstrom, Macy’s, Apple, Athleta, Banana Republic, American Eagle and many others, along with AMC Theatres.
Southridge Mall
5300 S. 76th St., Greendale
Serving Milwaukee’s southern suburbs, Southridge remains one of southeastern Wisconsin’s major enclosed shopping centers, offering retail, dining, entertainment and services in a convenient location near Historic Downtown Greendale.
More Shopping Destinations
The Corners of Brookfield
20111 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield
A walkable, open-air town center combining shopping, dining, entertainment and residential living, with Von Maur as a signature retailer.
The Mayfair Collection
11500 W. Burleigh St., Wauwatosa
An open-air shopping, dining and lifestyle development just east of Highway 45. The center combines national retailers, restaurants and services and complements nearby Mayfair.
I would move this out of your “Outlet Malls” section. The Mayfair Collection is not an outlet mall. That classification in the existing copy is misleading.
Drexel Town Square
Oak Creek
A mixed-use town center combining shops, restaurants, services, residential development, civic facilities and public gathering spaces. The development has helped create a new downtown destination for Oak Creek.
Outlet Shopping
Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
11211 120th Ave., Pleasant Prairie
Located just off I-94 near the Wisconsin-Illinois border, Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets offers 90+ stores, making it southeastern Wisconsin’s largest dedicated outlet-shopping destination. Current stores include Coach Outlet, Kate Spade Outlet, Michael Kors Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tory Burch Outlet, UGG, Under Armour Factory House, The North Face Outlets, J.Crew Factory and lululemon.
Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
Johnson Creek Premium Outlets
575 Linmar Lane, Johnson Creek
Located along I-94 between Milwaukee and Madison, Johnson Creek Premium Outlets offers outlet and factory shopping from brands including Adidas, American Eagle, Banana Republic Factory, Coach Outlet, Columbia Factory Store, Gap Factory, Nike Clearance Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger and Under Armour Factory House.
Gurnee Mills
6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee, Illinois
About midway between Milwaukee and Chicago, Gurnee Mills is a large shopping and entertainment destination offering a mix of outlet, value and traditional retailers, restaurants and entertainment. Because it is in northern Illinois, I’d retain it but identify it as a nearby regional option, rather than implying that it is part of southeastern Wisconsin.