One of the best ways to give back to the Milwaukee community is by supporting its amazing small businesses. During Milwaukee Small Business Week (June 1-5), I invite you to get to know the small businesses in your area—meet the owners, ask them their stories, learn about their products and find out why they love our city so much. In no particular order, here are a few of the many local small businesses that call Milwaukee home.
1. UBrew (1101 S. Second St.)
UBrew / Facebook
UBrew was born from Startup Weekend Milwaukee in 2013 and offers city residents the opportunity to learn how to home brew beer. Seriously, how much more Milwaukeean is that? UBrew offers affordable hands-on workshops for all experience levels and, down the road, hopes to create a facility that provides space and equipment that home brewers can utilize. Visit their location between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To register for their next home brewing class, call 414-215-9460 or email ubrewmke@gmail.com.
2. CityTins (online only)
CityTins / Facebook
Support locally owned eateries that contribute to the culture and community of Milwaukee by shopping at CityTins, a small online business that offers $25 tins filled with 20 uniquely designed business-specific coasters. The coasters give you a discount of $10 on any purchase of $25 or more at each destination—how awesome is that? Tin editions include Milwaukee Restaurants, Milwaukee Bars & Lounges and Madison Restaurants. Even better, CityTins has donated over $150,000 to nonprofits since its founding through fundraiser sales. For more information, email info@citytins.com.
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3. Cream City Swirl (2663 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.)
Cream City Swirl / Facebook
Established in 2013 in the heart of Bay View, Cream City Swirl is one of many great small businesses to visit for cool treats this summer. Available are twelve rotating flavors of low- and non-fat frozen yogurt, ice cream and sorbet with a plethora of toppings to add. They also offer all-natural gelato, sweet and savory crêpes, natural fruit puree smoothies, hot and cold drinks, and soups from The Soup Market. Summer hours are Monday-Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. For more information, call 414-897-8769.
4. Lizzibeth (550 E. Menomonee St.)
Lizzibeth / Facebook
Keep your retail therapy bill low while supporting the small business Lizzibeth, where all merchandise is under $100 and almost all jewelry is under $40. Founded in 2013, Lizzibeth offers an array of unique clothing, jewelry, handbags and scarves in the Third Ward, online, at private shopping parties and at pop-up shops/locations. And if you purchase a Tassel Necklace, 15% of the sale is donated to a local charity of the month through Lizzibeth’s charity outreach program. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12-6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. For more information, call 414-416-6265.
5. Tabal Chocolate (3329 W. Lisbon Ave.)
Tabal Chocolate / Facebook
Let me introduce you to Tabal Chocolate, one of only about 20 bean-to-bar producers in the country that creates stone-ground, certified-organic, single-source chocolate bars. Dan Bieser founded Tabal two years ago and develops recipes in the commercial kitchen he rents from community-focused artisan bakery and café Amaranth in the Washington Park area. His chocolate bars are available in about 45 stores throughout southeastern Wisconsin and he hopes his small business continues to grow so that he can employ more people from the area. Tabal offers six varieties of three-ounce 70% cacao dark chocolate bars, which can be purchased online or at locations such as Larry's Market (8737 N. Deerwood Drive), Schlitz Audubon Nature Center (1111 E. Brown Deer Road), Weeds (W62 N588 Washington Ave., Cedarburg) and the Riverwest Co-Op (733 E. Clarke St.). For more information, call 414-828-0336.
Have a suggestion for a Top 5 you’d like me to cover? Drop me a line at Amanda@shepex.com or call 414-292-3801.
This blog follows a specific limited list format and is by no means comprehensive. The opinions expressed are the author’s and guest bloggers’ own and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Shepherd Express. If you have any queries or grievances, email Amanda@shepex.com.
