The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Milwaukee

Visitors to Milwaukee will find two great musuems, tons of festivals, and many great places to shop. We have some great Mom and Pop stores that are can't miss destinations. Your ultimate guide to where to shop in Milwaukee also includes reviews for each of the malls within the Milwaukee Metroplex.

Crafts/Hobbies
Scrap'n Nook - Waukesha's Largest Scrapbook Store
If you are into Scrapbooking or rubberstamping you will love shopping at Scrap'n Nook. Scrap'n Nook is by far the best scrapbook store that I have shopped. Scrap'n Nook has a huge selection of patterned papers and an awesome selection of embellishments. Scrap'n Nook custom designs and manufactures their own line of titles and diecuts so you will find some truely unique items!

I am not a rubberstamper, but I saw a whole section of stamping supplies and shelves upon shelves of stamps. They have a cute enclosed Kid's Klub playhouse for anyone shopping with small children. Don't forget a camera, you will want to remember all of their great ideas that are posted throughout the store.

The Pepper Tree- Fabrics and yarns
Just recently re-located just a few doors down from the Scrap'n Nook is another one of my favorite shops. The Pepper Tree is a tiny hole in the wall store with an amazing selection of hard to find fabrics and yarns. When I have a special project to sew my first stop is always The Pepper Tree.

Clothing
Gerrene's- Fashion to make you look your best.
Gerrene's also just recently re-located and better than every is Gerrene's. Gerrene's has been around for over fifty years, but they have never gone out of style. Gerrene's carries petites, misses, and plus sizes. I love that I can always find something new and unique at Gerrene's. Their new location is much easier to get to and there is plenty of parking.

Margo's Village Boutique - 5606 Broad Street (Same strip mall as Gerenne's and Pawprints.)
Margo's is another great clothing boutique. The clothes are a bit above my budget, but some of the outfits are just to cute to resist! Just inside the front doors you will find an ever changing selection of great accessories. I especially love their handsewn purses.

Pet Supplies
Pawprints Across Your Heart- Great selection of gifts for people and the pet's that love them.
Pawprints is a dangerous place to shop at for me because I always spend way above my budget! The selection is always changing and the prices are great. Pawprints selection of dog clothes is the best in the Milwaukee area. Pawprints carries hard to find breeds and great leashes and harness made by a local woman that I absolutely swear by! (Pawprints is located right next door to Gerrene's)

Health Food
Health Hut- Three great locations.
If your like me you have forgotten to pack your daily supplements. Don't fret Health Hut is there for you! Their selection of supplements is almost overwhelming. While you are at Health Hut you might as well pick up a healthy snack. My favorite item to spoil myself with is the Rasberry Fat Free Brownie Mix, yummy.

Shopping Malls
Southridge - 113 Stores
From Steve and Berry's to Gamestop Southridge has it all. There are stores for every budget and every style at Southridge. The anchor stores at Southridge are Sears, Kohl's, Boston Store, JC Penny, and Linen's N Things. Almost year round the kids can ride the mechanical train or chose to play an the indoor playground. My favorite place to stop is the new adoption center for pets on the upper level.

Mayfair - 180 Stores
For the past 11 years Mayfair has been voted the best by Milwaukee shoppers. Mayfair features a large selection of popular national chains like J. Jill, Talbots, and Macy's. Mayfair has an 18 screen movie theater on the upper level just across the hall from Buid-A-Bear Workshop.

The restaurants are just to numerous to list. There is a lower and upper level food court. Mayfair also features Appleby's, Maggiano's, and The Cheesecake Factory.

Grand Avenue - 79 stores and restaurants
If you already plan on visiting one of Milwaukee's great downtown attractions then a detour to Grand Avenue Mall is in order. Great stores like Linen's N Things, Old Navy, and Lane Bryant. The newest anchour store is TJ Maxx!

Bayshore - 62 stores and restaurants
After three years and millions of dollars in improvements the new Bayshore Town Center is open. The first of it's kind in the country, Bayshore is a marvel of shopping and chic living. This one of a kind mall features apartments, offices, and of course shopping. You can shop at Aeropostale, Cacique, Gap, Ma Jolie, and so much more. I think the new town center will be stiff competition against Mayfair's 11 year run of best Milwaukee Shopping.

Brookfield Square - 110 stores and restaurants
Brookfield Square has also been newly renovated and updated. Brookfield Square has one of my favorite places to shop CJ Banks. CJ Banks is a great store for plus size clothes, their selection is always changing. Brookfield Square also offers Abercrombie, American Eagle, Charlotte Russe, and Ann Taylor Loft. Need shoes? Brookfield Square has Bakers and Payless Shoe Source. My recommendation for lunch would be to skip the food court and head to Fuddrucker's which is just off of the North Western corner of the Brookfield Square parking lot.