Super cute bookstore with lots of options and a fair price. The woman working when I went was…read moreincredibly nice.

I stopped in to buy a stuffed animal. It's one of the few places I know of that you can touch them…read moreand know how soft and cuddly they are. You can't do that with Amazon. As I was checking out a man said how cute it was and asked who I was buying it for. I said for a very dear young girl who has brain cancer. The owner checked me out, wrapped it very lovingly and chose 2 books to donate to her. Please patronize this business and thank you from the bottom of my heart to the generous owner!

Such a FANTASTIC find! I adore small bookshops. I am 47 and felt like a delighted child inside…read morethis Wonderland I spent far too much money and have ZERO regrets. Light and bright inside , creative decor and offerings, friendly knowledgeable staff who was very responsive to questions. I will definitely reccomend and return. *it came up in conversation that someone had recently hosted a baby shower there and I thought that was brilliant. The photos would be delightful!

Saw this new indie family-owned bookshop on the way to brunch and stopped in on a whim. That was…read morethe best choice I made this week. Inside the staff were very welcoming and helpful. They immediately included my daughter in the coloring activity that was going on when we arrived. There was a mouse mascot entertaining the kids and helping them color. The selection of children's books is amazing and there's a lot of neat toys and accessories too. They also have a selection of grown-up books to keep your attention while your kids play and explore. The shop is nicely decorated and extremely organized and clean. It's a relief to have a good indie opening again in Milwaukee after we lost several in the last few years. I highly recommend this shop to any family looking to engage their children in the world of reading.

My LGS for the last 3 years. Always a welcoming and inclusive staff and community, that respect…read moreyour time. Events, whether miniatures or TCG are well organized and well supported with friendly locals! Really love the multiple bathrooms as well as snack area.

This store focuses on miniature war games - primarily Warhammer. I really like the store and the…read morestaff. What I look for in any FLGS is what they offer beyond selling product and Battle Brothers offers anything new or experienced players would want in support of a Warhammer hobby. Want to learn to paint miniatures? Besides selling paints, brushes, miniatures, etc. They have tables and areas for painting and events for teaching you how to paint. They have events teaching you how to play and the staff will set up bespoke sessions to help you get started and will help match you with other players. The staff are knowledgeable about the product, enthusiastic about the hobby, and helpful without being pushy. It is not a particularly large shop but there several tables for running games and it had a good number of groups playing at the various tables on the weekday evening I visited. I walked away with the Warhammer 40k Core Book. I really don't have the time, storage space, and money to go all into Warhammer, but I'm thinking of buying, painting up, and playing a Combat Patrol set.

Such a fun store! Dimples is a successor to the variety stores of years past. Its merchandise is…read moreeclectic, attractively displayed and very well-priced. Our purchases were modest--two pairs of humorous socks and a hip pair of reading glasses--and owner Dennis couldn't have been more gracious.

I've shopped the world over, and never been treated so poorly. I'd heard rumors, but brushed them…read moreaside. Turns out they were spot on. The owner of this fading store would NOT allow me to look at $14 pashminas without her "help". When I said I wanted to look on my own, she fumed, "It's MY store." I walked across the street found much nicer merchandise, and a pleasant person behind the counter. If you want to browse, be treated with civility, steer clear!

As of last week (today is Oct. 25, 2019), the seasonal store is once again open. We still love…read morethis store for its many choices in holiday themed coffee mugs, puzzles, ceramic gifts (especially an incredible selection of large and small "mugs") and other stocking-stuffer gifts. *Note: I unsuccessfully tried to edit the Sunday store hours, which are now 12:00PM to 4:00PM.

I called customer service early in the morning 11/21 to speak to someone about a puzzle I had…read morepurchased as a gift. I wanted to let someone know that the puzzle was not able to be done. The puzzle was totally screwed up. Pcs did not line up. Edges were very hard to remove , I kept glueing the edges that came apart. I would never purchase a puzzle from them. 4pm. I still haven't received a call back.

When it comes to shopping and supporting local small businesses, the Bronzeville Collective is a…read moregreat option in Milwaukee! This location is home to several black/brown and LGBTQ+ creative business owners with over 25 local brands represented. I stopped by on Small Business Saturday and I really appreciated the efforts they are taking to provide a safe in-person shopping experience. They ask that you wear a mask and clean your hands upon entry (they have a sanitation station at the main entrance). They also have 'touchless shopping' signs throughout to remind shoppers to look with their eyes unless they're serious about purchasing an item. The represented brands range from clothing apparel to accessories and jewelry. They also have holistic care brands along with candles and other fragrances. If you're looking to support local, then you need to make a visit to the Bronzeville Collective!

The bohemian, spiritual, communal vibes of this place are strong! Such a unique spot and a…read moremust-visit if you are on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind gift. They have everything from crystal candles, gemstones, apparel, and lots of handcrafted jewelry. The atmosphere is funky, eclectic and oh so welcoming. Be ready to be stopped upon entering and nicely asked to use some hand-sanitizer. We weren't ready for that but had zero qualms about the request. There is also signage around the store calling for "touchless shopping" and everyone is quick to help upon request. It also looked like there were several orders waiting to be picked up, curb-side style. Might be worth looking into if you still aren't a fan of shopping in a brick and mortar just yet. Side note/bonus - a lot of the retailers in this space are local small businesses of color AND this shop is located directly across the America's Black Holocaust Museum.

I love this store! If you want to buy unique gifts and support the fair trade mission, this is your…read moreplace! I just shopped here for the holidays. Found a variety of beautiful ornaments, household items, and snacks. They also have children's toys, books, jewelry. Stop by and check everything out for yourself!

One of my favorite joints in Waukesha County. Their customer service is stellar; products are of…read moregreat quality; and their mission is about community and justice.

Local First Milwaukee is a great local business alliance comprised of both for profit and nonprofit…read morebusinesses in the Milwaukee area. There is a lot to love about the awesome things they do for the community, but the Buy Local Gift Fair has to be one of my favorites. The Fair has become so popular that they have outgrown their original home at the Lakefront Brewery Palm Garden. This was the first year is was held at the Mitchell Park Domes and it was laid out wonderfully. The issue with most Art/Craft/Other product fairs like this is that 6 foot tables are packed into a small room side by side in rows that allows for little movement of humans in between (sadly I just incurred one of these fairs yesterday). It's very hard to shop with people slamming into you, strollers rolling on your feet and the environment being too hot and too loud. So kudos to Buy Local for eliminating all those distractions and providing a serene and beautiful environment to enjoy this event in. I had never been to the Domes during the holidays so it was nice to taken in all the cheer between moments of shopping for local wares. So of my very favorite vendors where here (the list is in one of the photos below). And product highlights include: Becky's Blissful Caramels - The Dark Chocolate Sea Salt and Sangria caramels are stellar, but the Lakefront Brewery Beer and Pretzel Caramel is a game changer for sure. Indulgence Chocolates - So many great chocolates, but the seasonal Peppermint Chocolate Bar will rock your world. Jean's Clay Studio - Absolutely beautiful locally handcraft pottery from Potter Jean Wells! If you've seen the Collectivo Mug Collection each fall that's her work! Love Dust - Ethnic Spice Blends that create the fab flavors behind the Fast Foodie Food Truck Globaco line are now available for retail sale, and they are spectacular! Melthouse Bistro - Grilled Cheese is always appropriate and Melthouse makes some of the best. Milwaukee Empty Bowls - Furthering their mission and selling bowls and cookbooks from the annual fall event. #GiveMke Milwaukee Home - Embracing the spirit of the city in one awesome brand, gotta love it. Milwaukee Mustard Company - Small batch, locally prepared mustards that will have you rethinking your condiment game! Tomah Tang Cranberry, Bronzeville Buzz Honey Mustard (made with Walnut Way honey), Spicy Stout Beer Mustard (made with Milwaukee Brewing Company Polish Moon beer) and Whiskonsin Whiskey Mustard (made with Great Lakes Distillery KK Whiskey) are some of the most unique and delicious mustards you will encounter. Simmer Cafe - Scrumptious soups and sandwiches for the proprietors of the Simmer Truck and newly opened Simmer Cafe should not be missed when you have the opportunity. Tall Guy & a Grill Catering - Those meatballs. Hand rolled per the specifications in Grandma Betty's recipe. You will never look at meatballs the same after having these. And the housemade bloodies and mac and cheese bites will round out any great meal. Watch for their first retail product, Bourbon BBQ Sauce coming very, very soon! Treat Spiced Nuts - One of the most appropriately named companies EVER! Because these spiced and candied almonds and pecans are a huge treat to eat. And Milwaukee gets to claim them as their own! Top Note Tonics - A newer locally formulated concentrated syrup that will flavor or enhance any beverage it's mixed into. Add to seltzer water to create a tonic base, or do as many local bartenders and use drops for subtle, layered flavors. With over 50 fabulous local vendors and an enthusiastic crowd is was impossible to stop at each table and write about their amazingness. But to truly appreciate the love and dedication that goes into each and every small businesses product you should really check out these vendors for yourself. PSA - Links to all vendors and most awesome information can be found at the Local First website: http://localfirstmilwaukee.com/local-first-milwaukee/

Love coming to this event every year because I'm always able to find some great things to pick up…read morewhile also checking out the holiday display in the main Dome (gingerbread house theme this year!). Bought some sauces from Afro Fusion and got some delicious ranch pretzels. The vendors here overlap very little to some of the other holiday markets, which is why i look forward to going. Buy local!