Fair Trade for All Succeeds in Shorewood, Plans to Stay at Least for Spring

After a successful holiday season in Shorewood, Fair Trade will stick around.

When Fair Trade for All moved into the former B'Tween Friends spot on Capitol Drive about four months ago, they didn't do much advertising beyond posting up a sign with their name. But the customers started coming right away, curious about the new addition to the street. While Fair Trade for All owner Gail Bennett said she and her husband Allen Christian plan to close their Port Washington location where they did not break even, they plan to keep their Shorewood store open at least through May. "If you can open your business without advertising and have the community rally around it immediately, that is a tell-tale sign," Bennett said. Though they are still tallying the books, Bennett said sales at the Shorewood store about doubled the …

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christel henke

7:44 am on Monday, January 9, 2012

Fair Trade is a wonderful addition to Shorewood's shopping district and I'm so glad that it is doing well. I hope it is part of Shorewood's retail landscape for a long time. We need great options like this.   more ›

Faces of Shorewood

Shorewood’s Business Advantage

Jim Plaisted, Shorewood BID director and family man, says the village's business potential is envied.

Despite the tanking economy, Shorewood’s business potential is unusually good, Jim Plaisted, executive director of the Shorewood Business Improvement District, says. “The way Shorewood has positioned itself, there aren’t many examples like that (in the city),” he said. “There’s a lot of people jealous of our resources, especially since the economy tanked. Shorewood hasn’t shied away from its goals.” And, Plaisted, director since 2006 and executive director of the East Side BID since 1999, hasn't shied away from working toward a thriving business district in Shorewood. Like it says on Plaisted’s business card, Shorewood’s at the edge of the city and the heart of everything. But Shorewood is a land-locked community; there isn’t space for new…

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Jory Pradjinski

10:29 am on Thursday, May 12, 2011

Forgot to add that Mandel touts themselves as a "green builder" and was awarded the Business Journal's Green Builder of the Year (Residential). So of course this is a hotter topic around here then "walkability". On Mandel's website they talk about actually basic things which are easy enough for any builder to do, nothing fancy, just getting "Green" connected to their name. The interesting thing …   more ›

New Businesses Might Boost Property Values

As the Shorewood business district booms, residents can expect their property values to enjoy the ride.

More than a handful of new businesses have recently opened in Shorewood, transforming the village's business district into a destination for business owners and consumers. A season of construction produced eight new Shorewood businesses, such as those in the newly constructed Cornerstone building, with another six expected to open soon including new shops and offices on Capitol Drive and Oakland Avenue. And Village Manager Chris Swartz said he is still working hard, putting Shorewood's business district on the Milwaukee map. “Anytime you improve your business district, it brings a big buzz to the community because you have a destination district,” said Swartz. Along with a booming business district comes booming property values, Swartz …

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