Shopping in Milwaukee

     In the heart of Milwaukee, legacy cobblestone streets and ethnic specialty shops blend gracefully with the skywalks and covered malls that characterize the modern emporiums. The city's centerpiece is The Shops of Grand Avenue, a three-block multilevel marketplace on Wisconsin Avenue between N. 4th Street and the Milwaukee River that incorporates the historic Plankinton Arcade. It is anchored by Boston Store and encloses more than 80 shops and eateries.
     Such marketplaces as The Shops of Grand Avenue have not displaced Milwaukee's traditional shopping areas. Just below one of the mall's skywalks is Old World 3rd Street, between Wells and Juneau avenues, where late 19th-century buildings house specialty stores and eateries along a cobblestone street. Some shops include Usinger's Famous Sausage, the Wisconsin Cheese Mart, Spice House and others offering Hummel figurines, furniture and crafts.
     Across the Milwaukee River in East Town, the elegant shops along Jefferson Street include George Watts' china and crystal and those offering antiques, furnishings and other items. Two other colorful east-side neighborhoods are Brady Street, between Farwell Avenue and Marshall Street, steeped in Old World tradition, and Downer Avenue, between E. Webster and E. Park.
     An archway welcomes shoppers to Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, the city's original commercial district. Renovated warehouses and factories now house art galleries, antiques stores, restaurants, specialty shops and performing arts centers along streets lined with old-fashioned street lights. Antiques enthusiasts can browse along three floors of antiques and collectibles at Milwaukee Antique Center, 341 N. Milwaukee St. Downtown, the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan form the boundaries for the Ward's 17-block shopping area.
     Cedar Creek Settlement offers a delightful step back in time. Stonewood Village, 17700 W. Capitol Dr. in Brookfield, markets Colonial wares.
     Shopping centers in the metropolitan area are Bayshore, 5900 N. Port Washington Rd.; Brookfield Square, 95 N. Moorland Rd.; and Southridge, 5300 S. 76th St. Mayfair Mall, 2500 N. Mayfair Rd. in Wauwatosa, is anchored by Marshall Fields, and has eateries and an 18-screen theater. Mall stores generally are open Mon.-Fri. 10-9, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-6.