There is no place like local for the holidays. Buying a Milwaukee-found product is likely to be one of the year’s most satisfying purchases, yet sometimes, it can be tough to find those truly, “local” sellers in the big city. That’s why we’re here to help. We’re making shopping small in Milwaukee easy by hand-selecting some of our go-to shops for locally-sourced gifts. The shops featured in this year’s guide offer everything from home décor, coffee, and art to beauty and fashion and will take you to = Historic Bronzeville, Riverwest, Walker’s Point, and Bay View.
Read on for our top based in Milwaukee shops to hit up this holiday season. Be sure to let us know in the comments which place you’ll be shopping at first!
For funky, fresh finds: Ebb & Flow Design Co.
Neighborhood: Riverwest
Address: 906 E Center St., Milwaukee, WI 53212 (Google Maps)
At Ebb & Flow Design Co.’s small storefront located in the hip and artistic Milwaukee neighborhood known as Riverwest, you can find a wide range of unique, handcrafted, and uniquely-Milwaukee items you may not find anywhere else. Bonus! There is always something new to be found. Beyond the colorful and bold collection of home goods, blankets and cards (oh my!) our top two picks for gifts here are the customizable hats – which also come in kid sizes and the mini Milwaukee Prints. Here’s why we think these two items are such a great gift:
What makes the hats one of our top, must-have gifts of the season – beyond their versatility, are how they can be customized to reflect a serious Milwaukee vibe. Most of the hats available are flat billed, a solid, bright color and stitched on the front with a Milwaukee-specific or Wisconsin theme of sorts. Our fav was the cool, blue hat that read “Lake Michigan”. Other’s were stitched with “Wisco” or “Milwaukee”. Once you select a hat you can hand-pick patches to be permanently added. The patches are of Milwaukee icons like the Milwaukee Domes, Bucks antlers, 414 (Milwaukee’s area code) and even our beloved Hoan Bridge. Most of the patches are available on the Milwaukee Sticker Sheet ($4.14) which is available for purchase online and by artist Kaitlyn Powers.
Now, about the Milwaukee Prints. These are fun-sized (2.5” x 3.5”), EXCLUSIVE prints and they only cost (drumroll please….) fifty CENTS. It gets cooler – they are dispensed from a retro vending machine. Seriously. In the back of the store is where you will find this rad little Milwaukee print dispenser. Deposit two quarters and wah-lah you have a one-of-a-kind, artist original print.
All prints are a mystery, of an iconic Milwaukee landmark – much like the hat patches – and by a local Milwaukee artist, @MKELILPRINTSHOP. These prints are the ultimate Milwaukee souvenir and stocking stuffer!
While you can order products from Ebb & Flow online – including a monthly subscription to their Junk Journal Club, you cannot order the hats or the mini prints. You have to visit the store in person for these two unique finds.
For the Coffee Beans: BizStarts Community Market
Neighborhood: Walker’s Point, near the Third Ward
Address: 161 S 1st St Suite 100, Milwaukee, WI 53204 (Google Maps)
As the name implies, BizStarts Community Market is a place you visit for way more than a caffeine fix. On the fringes of the iconic Third Ward District, this coffee shop is a spot where you can catch a caffeine buzz while perusing locally-curated goods including coffees and teas. All the sellers here are talented creatives sharing their work while making a living through selling their made-in-Wisconsin products. There’s a little bit of everything here, from home goods to T-shirts and prints. Most of the artists also display their business cards by their collections so you can get in contact with them directly or check out their Etsy storefronts (which most sellers seem to have).
Pro Tip: before browsing the goods, be sure to order a specialty espresso drink or coffee flight. So many of the espresso drink names are nods to Milwaukee neighborhoods, sights and landmarks. We recommend “The Hoan is Where the Heart is” (Black tea syrup, vanilla, lavender – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it) or the Chill on the Hill Chai. Bonus! Most of the drinks can be served hot or iced.
For Wisconsin-Sourced Tinctures: Tippecanoe Herbs
Neighborhood: Bay View
Address: 2235 S. Kinnikinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207 (Google Maps)
Anyone looking for the PERFECT gift for a wellness fanatic or herbalist needs to hit up Tippecanoe Herbs asap. Located in Milwaukee’s Bayview neighborhood, Tippecanoe Herbs has been whipping up tinctures and a variety of what we would dub “homeopathic delights” since 2015. Here you will find something to soothe a broken heart, lessen anxiety, sleep better and breath easier. Honestly, if you have an ailment of any kind there’s a good chance Tippecanoe Herbs has something that will do the trick. It’s a fun shop to peruse and good luck leaving empty handed or within a reasonable amount of time – we typically get lost in the tincture racks for over an hour each time we pop in. The absolute best part of this shop is all of these tinctures are made in small batches with herbs from local farms and organic sources making the products, proudly made in Wisconsin. Who doesn’t like knowing where a product comes from especially one you put in your mouth?
For a Good Read, Especially Black Lit: Niche Book Bar
Neighborhood: Bronzeville
Address: 1937 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53212 (Google Maps)
Long live the independent bookstore especially those with a clear and unique vibe like Niche Book Bar. The moment your eyes land on the cream city brick storefront with deep evergreen accents and tall open windows, you know you’re about to enter a whole irresistible vibe. Known for serving up “Black Books and Red Wine” Niche Book Bar in Milwaukee’s Historic King Drive offers shoppers a thoughtfully curated collection of Black lit and a space to connect with community while sipping a glass of wine or coffee. Books are displayed by genre and cover everything from poetry to non-fiction. There’s also a great little, three-tiered shelf filled with baby and kid’s books. Beyond the books there is a sleek bar and some comfy seating as well as the more traditional table and chairs arrangement. It is a small shop but it has something and a space for every one. If you’re anything like us, you’ll feel inspired after stopping here. And not only will your holiday shopping list thank you but your Goodreads reading list will too!
For Fashions from By-Gone Eras: Plume
Neighborhood: Bay View
Address: 3001 S Kinnickinnic Ave #A, Milwaukee, WI 53207 (Google Maps)
If someone on your shopping list loves secondhand clothes or blending old pieces with new items; or if shopping vintage is just part of your own responsible fashion agenda, then you simply must pop into Plume in Bay View. This is a thoughtfully curated store and will likely become one of your regular shopping spots if you’re into secondhand clothes. This two-floor boutique is a mega VIBE – honestly even if you just visit to peruse and scope the aesthetic, it’s worth it.
Plume offers customers the full range of vintage women’s clothes, jewelry, shoes – even formal dresses and lingerie. It’s a great place to spontaneously find a stylish gift for a friend (or yourself) and you may even gravitate towards something you would never have if you selected it online. Be ready to step into this playful, hip spot with no idea what sort of incredible pieces you might leave with. To learn more about Plume and the brains behind the brick-and-mortar, check out this great piece written by Milwaukee Mag.
Final Thoughts
Let’s face it, shopping for gifts at any time of the year can be stressful and overwhelming. We’ve carefully curated this shopping guide featuring some of our favorite small stores around Milwaukee will help you have a season of meaningful gift giving. Or at the very least, may this guide help you discover a new favorite locally-owned shop or inspire you to explore more of Milwaukee’s vibrant neighborhoods.
Let us know in the comments where you’d shop first.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday season!
– Alyssa & Justin
Disclaimer: Parks and Planes LLC has taken great care to ensure accuracy of this post as much as possible. However, over time, things like hours of operations, admission policies, even names of things may change. We suggest double-checking details when planning a trip. As always, all opinions, photos and content are our own. We only recommend places, products and experiences we love.
