POLL: Shorewood or Bay, Which Village Has It Right on Business Recruitment?

Shorewood has spent a lot of money for its growth on Oakland Avenue, while Whitefish Bay chooses a more conservative approach that only recently seems to be paying off. Which one community has it right?

While there are certainly cultural and geographical differences between the neighboring villages of Shorewood and Whitefish Bay, the two communities’ philosophical difference in business development is just as stark. Shorewood has been very aggressive in spending money to recruit new businesses, while Whitefish Bay has decided to be more conservative with its expenses and more modest in its growth. But, Shorewood has added nearly 30 new businesses while losing just two over two years. Over that time span, Whitefish Bay has seen a lot of turnover with nine businesses leaving and another 14 opening their doors.  John Stuhlmacher, chairman of the Whitefish Bay Business Improvement District, said in an article on Patch, "you have to let the …

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Tale of Two Business Districts: Bay, Shorewood Differ on Public Funding

Shorewood has spent a lot of money for its growth on Oakland Avenue, while Whitefish Bay chooses a more conservative approach that only recently seems to be paying off.

When El Guapo’s closed its doors in late 2010, it seemed to spell trouble for East Silver Spring Drive. With the loss of Silver Spring’s only sit-down restaurant, Whitefish Bay continued to feel the effects of a lingering recession, as old standbys like Les Moise, Elements East and Zita left town. In a two-year period, Silver Spring continued to see turnover — with nine businesses leaving and another 14 opening their doors. However, in the past month, Whitefish Bay seems to be on the verge of a revival with news of two new food options — a tapas bar and The Bay restaurant in the old El Guapo’s space. In addition, Erik’s Bike Shop plans to fill the huge storefront vacated by Les Moise last year. While awaiting the spring bloom of new …

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Absolutelyfabulous

8:06 am on Sunday, February 17, 2013

Dan Katz sure got one hell of a deal. Buys 3575 N Oakland Ave for $1,500,000 in 2012 that originally was purchased for $3,485,000 in 2006. Previous Owners put in ~$1,200,000 in renovations (or so they said) while receiving ~ $400,000 in free monies from the Village of Shorewood. So much for the Village pumping taxpayers monies into certain properties for the purpose of increasing property values …   more ›

Camp Bar Slated to Open Nov. 17

Shorewood's little taste of northern Wisconsin will set up camp in a couple weeks at 4044 N. Oakland Ave.

Shorewood's little taste of "up north," Camp Bar, is set to pitch its tent on North Oakland Avenue on Nov. 17. Construction is wrapping up at 4044 N. Oakland Ave., across the street from the new LightHorse 4041 development, and the new bar promises to invoke the feeling up a northern Wisconsin cabin. It will feature unique architecture and woodwork, complete with taxidermy on the walls. Camp Bar has teamed up with Falbo Bros. to offer pizza, and owner Paul Hackbarth has said he plans to offer sandwiches as well, according to the bar's website. Drink prices should be line with other area bars. As part of a grand opening promotion, the bar will offer drink specials that weekend. Camp Bar will be open Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. until bar …

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Indulgence Chocolatiers Now Open on Oakland Avenue

The Waukesha-based artisan chocolate wholesaler is the first in a slate of new shops coming to Shorewood in the new Ravenna development.

The first of three new shops coming to Shorewood opened Tuesday in the new Ravenna development. Waukesha-based artisan chocolate wholesaler Indulgence Chocolatiers has realized its first brick-and-mortar storefront at 4525 N. Oakland Ave., across the street from North Star American Bistro. Indulgence’s owner Julie Waterman said she hopes chocolate enthusiasts from all over the metro area view the shop as a destination to enjoy fine chocolate confections the shop handcrafts in its local kitchen. “We think the store is a different type of experience than you will find at other shops in the area, with a beautiful contemporary space offering the full line of Indulgence’s standard confections, long with seasonal and specialty products, monthly …

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New Bar to Bring 'Up North' Feel to North Shore

Owner Paul Hackbarth hopes to open his new cabin-themed bar, Camp Bar, across from Sendik's on North Oakland Avenue, in late October.

There's something special about a trip "up north" for Paul Hackbarth. That’s why he is trying to bring a bit of that northern cabin feel to Shorewood and the North Shore with his new bar, Camp Bar, which he hopes to open Halloween weekend. “It will be like walking into a cabin, but it will still have an urban feel," he said. “It’s going to be what 'up north' means to me." Under construction at 4044 N. Oakland Ave., Camp Bar will have a northern Wisconsin cabin design, with unique architecture. “It will have lots of taxidermy, great woodwork and excellent craftsmanship,” he said. “When some people think 'up north,' they think rundown cabin or camping in the woods, but not here." He added that he's working with an architect that designed …

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David Tatarowicz

2:58 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

I remember about 5 decades ago going up Nort to Squirrel Lake off Hwy 70 west of Minocqua --- we stayed on a different lake, but Squirrel was a good Muskey lake so we always went there a couple times during a stay -- We would go to Doc's -- a log cabin tavern on the lake ---Very Small --- rent a boat and motor from Doc and get some bait ... As I said, Doc's was very small, even then I almost hit …   more ›

Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

After Home Away from Home is Extinguished, Two British Friends Open Three Lions

Following fire at British-style tavern, the former pub's two managers and longtime friends realized their local slice of home in Three Lions Pub.

The English pub is homogeneous to a community hub, providing a venue for locals to come and expound on culture, David Price says. It's much more than just a place to grab a "pint and a bite." “It's a place to go watch soccer, a cozy little pub like back home, where you can come on your own and read a book or come with 20 people and have a party,” Price said. Price and longtime friend Christopher Tinker both grew up in small towns situated between Manchester and Liverpool in the United Kingdom, where they came to digest the paramountcy of the local pub to the English communities they serve. They made the journey to Milwaukee in early 2003, on scholarships to play soccer and study at Cardinal Stritch University, in a group of five. It was in…

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