Whether looking to spice up your fall wardrobe or update your home with new seasonal décor, Middleton has you covered with more than 50 shopping options. Check out charming boutique shops in downtown Middleton or head to Greenway Station to discover name-brand stores.

Find a new fall fit

We get it, clothing styles seem to change as fast as the seasons; luckily, Middleton stays up-to-date on fashion trends. Stroll through downtown Middleton and find chic new styles at Tradition Women’s Market, sustainably sourced women’s clothing at Cloth and Metal Boutique, bright-colored women’s apparel at Chauette Fashion & Home and authentic men’s clothing at Journeyman Co. Or, head to Greenway Station, a 51-acre outdoor shopping center, to shop at top-retail brands, like LOFT, J. Jill, Chico’s and more.

Treat the kids to something new

Shopping for kids can be just as fun as shopping for yourself. If looking to dress up the kid in your life, head to Tradition Children’s Market, where you’ll find adorable apparel, toys and accessories for children. See your kid’s imagination soar with a trip to I’m Board! Games & Family Fun, a local board and card game shop that lets you try out some of the games.

Decorate the home

Don’t forget to dress up your home for the season as well. Middleton is home to multiple great home décor stores. When downtown, find something handmade and local at The Regal Find or colorful and cute at Little Pop Color Shop. Head just a few minutes from downtown to The Bruce Company, where you’ll find excellent landscape products and great seasonal décor that will make your home pop from inside to out. At Greenway Station, browse furnishing, accessories and more at HomeGoods and World Market.

Plan a party

From pumpkin carving gatherings to backyard bonfires to tailgate parties, there are many excuses to gather with friends and family this fall. Impress your guests with delicious food and refreshments from somewhere local. Pick up all the fixings for a backyard barbeque at UW Provision, premade charcuterie boards and customized brew packs at Longtable Beer Cafe, America’s favorite condiment, plus other dips and spreads, at the National Mustard Museum, coffee bar ingredients from Barriques or delicious baked goods from Hubbard Avenue Diner, Miggy’s Bakes or Clasen’s European Bakery. Wow your guests even more with adorable decorations and party supplies from Little Pop Color Shop.

FESTIVITIES AND FIREWORKS

If you enjoy celebrating the U.S. by getting on your feet and dancing to the beat, then from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, head on over to Middleton High School’s Otto Breitenbach Stadium for Drums on Parade, a stellar marching music performance and regional competition put on by Drum Corps International.

You’ll be in for a good time if you decide to spend part of your Fourth of July weekend at Pleasant View Golf Course. For the entire weekend, Pleasant View has fun activities and specials planned. Whether you want to get out with the whole family, enjoy a fish fry before or after hitting up the par 3 course or tee up 18 holes with a cart included for only $29.95, there’s something for all to enjoy on the course over the Fourth.

The City of Middleton does not host a fireworks show — partly because there are so many places to take in the festivities around us! Follow this link to see the various scheduled festivals and fireworks events happening over the Fourth of July weekend just a short drive away!

LAKE LIFE

There are several ways to get onto Lake Mendota in Middleton, we even have a rental shop in case you don’t have or can’t bring your own boat!

Open docks: Marshall Park and Mendota County Park in nearby Westport.

Rentals: Marshall Boats rents pontoon boats, kayaks (singles and tandem), paddleboards (singles and doubles), and canoes. Marshall Boats also offers events, group rentals and private parties at its rooftop patio.

CAMPING

Mendota County Park is located just off of County Road M in the Town of Westport — which shares a border with Middleton (it’s about 10-15 minutes from Downtown Middleton).

The park has a 30-unit campground and a 5-unit boat camping area. Each site has a 30-amp electrical hook-up. Services include bathroom and shower facilities and a dump station. Mendota County Park also offers two shelter facilities, unsupervised swimming area with an accessible swimming ramp, volleyball courts, play equipment and a shallow launch for small boats, kayaks and canoes. This park, located a few miles southwest of Governor Nelson State Park, is also a designated lake access site from December through March.

SPLASH PADS & POOLS

One of Middleton’s most beloved family attractions in the summertime is the free Splash Pad at Lakeview Park. The Splash Pad is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and is located in the beautiful Lakeview Park.

Another great way to get in the water is the Walter R. Bauman Outdoor Aquatic Center, which features a zero-depth pool, eight-lane competition pool, a diving well, waterslides, interactive water play equipment, a sand playground and a concession stand. From 1-4 p.m. on July 4, the aquatic center will be hosting a special Fourth of July Pool Party that will include fun games, contests and concession specials, learn more here.

PICNIC AREAS

All of Middleton’s parks have open picnic areas. If looking for a spot to set up a picnic, check out the City’s Parks & Rec site for more information, as well as reservation information for larger groups. Book your reservation before it’s too late! 

HIT THE TRAILS

Sometimes you just need an excuse to slow down during the busy holiday weekend and enjoy nature, Pheasant Branch Conservancy is the perfect excuse. The conservancy offers more than 500 acres of protected prairie land with well-kept trails that can be accessed from various points throughout Middleton. Find trails — for both hiking and biking — and scenic views of the creek, bridges, birds and more.

DINING/SHOPPING

With more than 70 restaurants and cafes and more than 50 places to shop, you will not get bored in Middleton. Dining in Middleton is made up of a variety of cuisines including Indian, Cajun, Mexican, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Mediterranean and more — there is truly something for everyone! Discover our delicious dining scene here.

Don’t forget to stop by The National Mustard Museum, home to nearly 6,000 mustards from around the world. Sample some of the most popular mustard brands at the tasting bar and shop around the gift shop for quirky souvenirs.

You won’t want to miss out on visiting Middleton’s award-winning craft brewery, Capital Brewery & Bier Garten. On Friday nights during the summer, the Bier Garten hosts live music on its performance stage, view the 2023 Bier Garten music lineup here.

FIND LODGING

Middleton is home to nine hotel properties, all minutes from downtown and accessible from the Beltline (which can take you to downtown Madison in less than 15 minutes). Check out our hotels and book your stay today!

MAKE MIDDLETON YOUR HOME BASE

Middleton is conveniently located within an hour of multiple area attractions. Check out our custom illustrated regional map! Explore the area and come home to us!

Whether it’s gathering with friends on a pontoon on Lake Mendota, camping with family at Mendota County Park, or just enjoying the leisure life downtown — Middleton has everything you need for a fun and relaxing holiday weekend.

With a variety of unique small and large businesses ran by passionate entrepreneurs, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Middleton. Of Middleton’s more than 70 restaurants and 55 vibrant shops, galleries and retailers, many are owned and operated by successful women.

Women’s History Month is the perfect time to spotlight some of the many Middleton businesswomen who are making an impact on the community and leading the way for future generations, including Trio Ramen (owned by Xuan Wang, Wendy Weng and Peggy Wang), Grape Water Wine Bar (owned by Nicki Prestigiacomo) and Little Pop Color Shop (owned by Alli Klingbiel).

Even though they differ in each of their business offerings, all five women have one thing in common — they love what they do, where they do it and who they serve.

Whether it be defying social expectations, receiving equitable access to funding, or balancing work and family, women in the business world tend to face a variety of challenges.

And sometimes it’s the challenges that life brings that pave a new career path — often times an unexpected one. This was the case for Nicki Prestigiacomo, who opened Grape Water Wine Bar in November 2017.

“I was recently divorced and unhappy with my current job. Instead of shifting gears and considering a new career, I thought the best thing would be to create my own job that would make me happy,” she said.

Previously working in the corporate world, Alli Klingbiel who opened Little Pop Color Shop in September 2020, described this transition as one she couldn’t imagine not embarking on.

“With owning my own business, I just have more creative control and am able to really focus on what I love most, rather than working on projects or topics that I am not passionate about,” she said.

As for the three best friends at Trio Ramen, they all agreed that their biggest push to open was their desire to defy cultural norms and dive into opening their own business. Doors to Trio Ramen opened in February 2023.

“I wanted to show women and girls that accomplishing their dream is doable,” said Xuan Wang.

“As mothers, we especially wanted our own daughters to see what women in our culture have the potential to achieve,” Peggy Wang added.

Each woman shared how grateful they are to continually receive an abundant amount of support. Internally, all the women have an excellent support system to fall back on. The women at Trio Ramen are able to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and Little Pop Color Shop is run by an all-female staff with Klingbiel’s biggest source of inspiration coming from her mom who has been an entrepreneur for years.

“I continually receive a tremendous amount of support from all the businesses in downtown Middleton — many of them are female-owned, which is special to see,” Prestigiacomo said.

Besides having a love for their business, another common trend for these women is that they all have a strong love for Middleton.

“All three of us have raised our families in Middleton, this is our home. We wanted to be the first to offer our own community members a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine,” Wendy Weng said.

Trio Ramen owners’ affection for Middleton diners is clear.

“During business hours, you’ll find us three out on the floor talking to the customers, explaining each ingredient and asking for feedback so we can make this restaurant into what our Middleton community wants,” Peggy Wang added.

Prestigiacomo also loves Middleton — the city where she was born and raised.

“My daughter was the fifth generation in our family to graduate from Middleton High School,” she said. “So, Middleton was the only placed I considered opening.”

Through all the obstacles, hard work and long hours, each of these women agreed that becoming entrepreneurs has been worth it. They all emphasized the importance of following through with a passion or dream —however big or small —creating a thorough plan and not being afraid to ask for help along the way.

These women, as well as the many more female entrepreneurs throughout Middleton, are shaping the way for the next generation of female business owners in this community.

Here is a list of Middleton’s many small businesses ran, or co-ran, by women:
(If you think we are missing a business, please email us.)

Shopping

• Bauer Jewelry Designs
• Chauette Fashion & Home
• Cloth and Metal Boutique
• Isthmus Art & Framing
• Little Pop Color Shop
• National Mustard Museum Gift Shop
• Promises Floral and and Gift Studio
• Simply Savvy
• The Regal Find
• Tradition Women’s Market
• Tradition Children’s Market

Restaurant/Food

• Apex Nutrition
• C’s Restaurant & Bakery
• Clasen’s European Bakery
• Grace Coffee Co.
• Grape Water Wine Bar
• Hubbard Avenue Diner
• My Sister’s Kitchen
• Poke Bar
• Taigu Chinese Restaurant
• Trio Ramen

Health & Wellness

• Blaze
• Lasting Skin Solutions
• LADRU IV Drip Therapy
• REFORMADISON
• Renu Massage, Energy & Bodywork 
• Zucca Pilates

Co-owned Businesses

• Aniu Salon & Spa
• Compadres Mexican Restaurant
• Diny’s Jewelers
• John/Christine Designs
• Longtable Beer Cafe
• Louisianne’s ETC
• National Mustard Museum
• Sofra Family Bistro
• Takara 88
• Urban Gardens & Greenhouse
• Villa Dolce
• Wheel & Sprocket

SPA DAY

Self-care isn’t a buzz word — it’s a lifestyle to promote personal health and happiness. Book a spa day for one or a group of friends. Gift cards are also available online. Check out Happy Nails & Spa, Le Nails Salon & Spa, ANiU Salon & Spa, Studio 262 Salon and Timeless Design Salon & Spa to view services.

CHEERS

Capital Brewery & Bier Garden, Hidden Cave Cidery, Grape Water Wine Bar and Barriques are just a few of the popular spots to try local and regional flavors. Capital Brewery is an award-winning local craft brewery, and Hidden Cave Cidery is an award-winning local cidery which only uses Wisconsin-grown apples, and they are hosting their own Valentine’s Day event, a Valentine’s Dinner paired with the release of their Chocolate Hazelnut Cider (Feb. 10, 2023). Free House Pub and Craftsman Table & Tap also offer a wide selection of beers, cocktails and food.

BRUNCH, LUNCH & DINNER OUT

Enjoy more than 70 restaurants, diners, cafes and ice cream shops in Middleton! Whatever you are craving, you will find minutes from your hotel. See our extensive menu of restaurants here.

Looking for a very special brunch option? Sofra Family Bistro offers cocktails, breakfast classics and specialty crepes. There are several cafes that also do an amazing brunch services, like Grace Coffee Co. and Prairie Cafe.

TREAT YOURSELF

Special Valentine-themed treats are available at Hubbard Avenue Diner’s bakery counter — cakes, cookies and pies, oh my! Clasen’s European Bakery’s displays of chocolates, cakes, heart-shaped brownies and candies will delight any sweetheart.

ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS

Pheasant Branch Conservancy is a perfect place for a winter hike. Take in tranquil woodland trails or take a trek up Frederick’s Hill. The view is expansive — you can even see the state capitol.

You’ll find some of the area’s best cross-country skiing at CXC Outdoor Recreation and Sports Center (CXC Center). There is skating and classic skiing. Facilities are open through March 13, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily with the purchase of a trail pass. City of Middleton residents receive a 50 percent discount by purchasing tickets at City Hall or via online. Only cross-country skiing is allowed on the cross-country ski trail system.

Click here to view a map of the cross-country ski trails.

CXC bike trails are free and open to the public.

Somthing unique

Immersive Van Gogh is being shown in Middleton through Feb. 20, 2023. The lobby gives visitors a glimpse at Vincent Van Gogh’s style, but the exhibit is stunning. Sit or stand quietly while Van Gogh’s art fills the walls, ceiling and floor around you, set to music to accentuate its meaning.

SOMETHING SPECIAL

Middleton is filled with unique local shops and stores as well as popular national retailers. Head to Greenway Station and explore 51 acres of stores and restaurants, linked by covered walkways. Venture to Middleton’s beautiful downtown filled with old and new shops to explore, including many located in charming historic buildings.

SOMETHING SPICEY

Spice up your life with America’s favorite condiment. The National Mustard Museum is a shrine to all things sweet and spicy. The museum is one of Wisconsin’s most popular tourist attractions, holding more than 6,000 mustards from around the world. The museum and retail shop are open for visitors and offer mail orders and delivery. Learn more about the museum.

Middleton is known for its scenic views and rejuvenated downtown, but did you know it is also home to a beautiful outdoor shopping center only seven minutes from downtown Middleton and next door to multiple hotel properties?

Greenway Station is a 51-acre shopping and dining center with free parking, plenty of restaurants and multiple well-known stores. It’s located just off the Beltline, near four of Middleton’s hotels, minutes away from four more, and only 20 minutes from the state capitol.

SHOPPING

There are 25 retailers ranging from World Market to Bath & Body Works to the Loft to J. Jill’s. If looking for a gift, new shoes or a spa day, see what Greenway Station has to offer here. And check out all Middleton has to offer in shopping here.

DINING

Middleton boasts 70 dining locations and 10 of those restaurants are located within Greenway Station — and more nearby.  Sit out on the patio at Ancho & Agave, indulge in crazy flavors at Cold Stone Creamery, enjoy traditional Japanese dishes at Fuji Sushi & Hibachi, or step into the sophisticated, yet warm, ambiance of Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse. See a full list here. And check out all Middleton has to offer in dining here.

EXPERIENCE

This is not your typical shopping experience. Greenway Station’s retailers are arranged around pleasant outdoor walkways and greenspaces with bench seating and a casual atmosphere. The center fountain is a draw to locals and visitors — you might even catch a wedding party taking photos.

FARMERS MARKET

Everyone feels like one of the neighbors at the Greenway Station Farmers Market. Vendors bring homegrown honey, maple syrup, flowers and more to complement the variety of vegetables, jams, canned goods, cheese curds and baked goodies. All are welcome, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursdays, May 4 – Oct. 5, 2023.

View all nine of our hotels here.

Feel like getting back to nature? The beautiful Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor Trail runs through the heart of Middleton and Pheasant Branch Conservancy presents more possibilities for tranquil walking. More trails wind through picturesque parks that are located throughout the city – discover why Middleton’s trails have earned national recognition.

Also near hotels: Greenway Station is an open-air shopping and dining complex that’s perfect for a walk – businesses are linked with tranquil walkways. Explore more than 25 shops and restaurants.

GETAWAY PACKAGES

Middleton has nine hotels waiting to provide a warm welcome to you and yours. Right now, several hotels are offering specials for Feb. 11-22. Click here to learn more.

SPA DAY

Self-care isn’t a buzz word — it’s a lifestyle to promote personal health and happiness. Book a spa day for one or a group of friends. Gift cards are also available online. Check out Happy Nails & Spa, Le Nails Salon & Spa, ANiU Salon & Spa, and Studio 262 Salon to view services.

CHEERS

Capital Brewery & Bier Garden, Hidden Cave Cidery, Grape Water Wine Bar and Barriques are a few popular spots to try local and regional flavors. Capital Brewery is an award-winning local craft brewery, and Hidden Cave Cidery is an award-winning local cidery which only uses Wisconsin-grown apples, and they are hosting their own Valentine’s Day event, a chocolate hazelnut cider and Origin Bread brownie pairing Feb. 11. World of Beer and Craftsman Table & Tap also offer a wide selection of beers, cocktails and food.

BRUNCH, LUNCH & DINNER OUT

Enjoy more than 70 restaurants, diners, cafes and ice cream shops in Middleton! Whatever you are craving, you will find minutes from your hotel. Here is a one-stop shop for all Middleton’s dining locations, or view individual pages here.

TREAT YOURSELF

Special Valentine-themed treats are available at Hubbard Avenue Diner’s bakery counter — cakes, cookies and pies, oh my! Clasen’s European Bakery’s displays of chocolates, cakes, heart-shaped brownies and candies will delight any sweetheart.

*Banner photo: Hubbard Avenue Diner’s famous sugar cookies

ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS

The 519-acre Pheasant Branch Conservancy is a perfect place for a winter hike. Take in tranquil woodland trails or take a trek up Frederick’s Hill. The view is expansive — you can even see the state capitol.

You’ll find some of the area’s best cross-country skiing around Pleasant View Golf Course at CXC Outdoor Recreation and Sports Center (CXC Center). There is skating and diagonal striding. Facilities are open through March 31, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily with the purchase of a trail pass. City of Middleton residents receive a 50 percent discount by purchasing tickets at City Hall or via online. Only cross-country skiing is allowed on the cross-country ski trail system.

Click here to view a map of the cross-country ski trails; also available here.

CXC bike trails are free and open to the public.

SOMETHING SPECIAL

Middleton is filled with unique local shops and stores as well as popular national retailers. Head to Greenway Station and explore 51 acres of stores and restaurants, linked by covered walkways. Venture to Middleton’s beautiful downtown filled with old and new shops to explore, including many located in charming historic buildings.

SOMETHING SPICEY

Spice up your life with America’s favorite condiment. The National Mustard Museum is a shrine to all things sweet and spicy. The museum is one of Wisconsin’s most popular tourist attractions, holding more than 6,000 mustards from around the world. The museum and retail shop are open for visitors and offer mail orders and delivery. Learn more about the museum.

Grape Water Wine Bar

There are so many ways to enjoy Middleton in every season. Middleton in winter is all about setting your own pace and enjoying yourself.

• Capital Brewery & Bier Stube is open to patrons who enjoy award-winning German lagers. Don’t forget to try their seltzers and specialty brews from their seven-barrel system! And don’t forget about Bockfest, their annual outdoor beer festival the last Saturday in February.
• Hidden Cave Cidery opened its tasting room in Middleton in summer 2021 and includes an outdoor patio during warmer days and an indoor space for functions and colder weather.
• Wine and more wine, that’s what you’ll find at the Grape Water Wine Bar downtown. It’s a great spot to meet with friends. On mild days, they set out heat lamps to enjoy a glass outdoors, otherwise cozy up within.
• Learn about the spicy history of one of the world’s most beloved condiments at the National Mustard Museum. Be wowed at the nearly 6,000 varieties on display.
• Explore the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. You can do it on foot while the weather cooperates or, once the snow flies, strap on the snowshoes and get some fresh air. In order to protect the revitalized prairie landscape in the conservancy, snowshoeing is not allowed off trails and cross-country.
• Glide across the ice at the Capitol Ice Arena. Rentals are reasonable and there are lots of open skate times.
• Cross-country skiing and mountain biking at CXC Outdoor Recreation and Sports Center (CXC Center). Ski trail passes are required December-March (mountain bike trails are always free).
• Find your favorite winter comfort food at one of Middleton’s more than 70 delicious restaurants and cafes.
• Shop, shop, shop. Explore the unique, local shops downtown, or head to the Greenway Station retail center for big names and great bargains.

John/Christine Designs, downtown Middleton

John Strobel, co-owner of John/Christine Designs, has been making one-of-a-kind jewelry creations since the 1970s, and his inspiration can strike anywhere at any time.

“I have dreams, or in architecture. I’ll see something in a building. I might snap a picture. Out on our bikes, we’re riding and I see different things. I see really great things in snow piles! Snow’s got such great flow to it,” John laughed.

That same inspiration struck one day in 2018 while John and his wife Christine were out bike riding in Middleton, and they saw their future storefront up for rent. They were searching for a new home for their gallery and after looking at several communities, they couldn’t get the Good Neighbor City out of their minds.

“It just kept coming back to Middleton, this is where we wanted to be,” said Christine. “We shop here, we go to the restaurants here, it just seemed like a natural fit for us. This is just a super vibrant downtown area.”

For years, the husband-and-wife duo sold their creations in other people’s galleries, but they missed the interaction they had with their customers.

“We liked the connection with the people. We want to meet the people. We want to see how people respond to the work and feel that energy that you get from them,” Christine said.

That energy is what drives John’s creativity and passion, as he works side-by-side with his customers to create a piece that’s stunning, and most of all, unique.

“I like exotics, like tourmalines that are unique colors from different parts of the world. Custom cut gemstones you’re just not going to see in a regular jewelry store,” John said.

His designs start out as a simple block of wax that constantly evolves while he’s carving. There’s no CAD or 3D printing in this shop. Just a vision and a love for all things beautiful.

“My problem for many years was trying to fit my square peg in the round hole in the jewelry world,” John said. “People say that’s crazy, there’s no master plan. But there is a plan, and it’s just creating the coolest stuff I can come up with, with or without gemstones. I tell people, ‘Welcome to my mind!’”

The Strobels say about 40 percent of their sales are concepts they develop with customers; the rest are John’s creations alone. And there’s a story with each and every piece. In sharing those stories, John and Christine have grown close to their customers, many of whom become like family, staying in touch even over long distances.

“That’s a part of the business that we never anticipated going into it. And it’s very special what people are willing to share with us,” Christine said.

And although the Strobels and their work are internationally renown, they can’t imagine calling any place but downtown Middleton home.

“We’re all unique here. We’re all driving the same kind of customer,” Christine said. “People who don’t want to go to a department store or a big box store and do their shopping. They want something special and to shop local.”

John/Christine Designs
johnchristinedesigns.com
1835 Parmenter St., Middleton, WI
608-824-0392

Hours:
See website for hours. Also open by appointment.

A customer came into Diny’s Jewelers one day with a pretty ring that had a delicate floral design. The ring needed to be appraised — it was given to the customer by her husband on their first anniversary, 49 years ago.

“It was the moment that my husband could spend that kind of money on me,” the woman recalled, vividly remembering the day she received the ring.

Was the ring valuable? To the woman who held it near her heart, it was priceless.

Diny’s Jewelers is a family-owned jeweler in downtown Middleton that knows sometimes the most valuable part of a piece of jewelry is the story.

The shop sells beautiful pieces that help mark important moments of life — weddings, anniversaries, communions and birthdays. Sara Diny Alexander, a fine jewelry consultant, encourages customers to write their stories down. How did the engagement happen? What was life really like for the young couple starting a future together?

“The next generation really loves the stories behind a piece,” she explained. “We encourage people when they have appraisals — particularly if they know (the jewelry) is going to be given to somebody eventually — to write as many stories as they can about that piece.”

The story of Diny’s Jewelers began on April 15, 1983, when Peter and Beverly Diny founded the business in Darlington, Wis. Over the years, the Diny building and family would grow and move, eventually locating to Middleton in 2003. A second generation has joined the business — Sara and her brother Nick both joined the enterprise after working a time in other industries.

“We both ended up coming back for the love of the business, family and flexibility,” Sara said.

The Diny family has a great deal of expertise in the jewelry business. Peter is a Graduate Gemologist, GIA and a Master Graduate Gemologist Appraiser, IJO. Beverly is a Diamond and Pearl Graduate, GIA; Sara is a Diamond Graduate, GIA; and Nick is certified in stone setting and CAD design.

Customers benefit from this extensive training, as Diny’s is a full-service business. In addition to jewelry sales, the shop repairs jewelry and watches, purchases unwanted gold, silver and platinum, completes custom design work and provides appraisals.

“(Our business) is built on trust,” Sara said. “It’s like when you bring your car to a mechanic. You want to trust what they are telling you is what they are giving you.

“People trust us with heirlooms that have been in their family for 100 years.”

The store can also help solve mysteries — sometimes a customer inherits jewelry and has no idea if it’s even worth enough to appraise. In one instance, a family had mistaken valuable pieces for costume jewelry and allowed children to casually play with the items — a later consultation revealed that some of the pieces were worth thousands of dollars.

“That’s what we are here for,” she added.

Diny’s has many longtime customers and over the years the pieces they have purchased have increased greatly in value. The business recommends that people appraise their pieces every three to five years.

Diny’s also helps customers with matters that are beyond any appraisal. One recent customer lost his wife of 45 years. The store is helping him with a final precious task — printing her fingerprints on the inside of his ring.

About Diny’s Jewelers
1903 Cayuga St # 105, Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 831-3469
dinys.com
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Middleton has something to offer everyone.

With that in mind, use the following to choose your own Middleton adventure! Here are three OUTDOOR itineraries to mix and match with SHOP-DINE-RELAX options to create your own PERFECT DAY IN MIDDLETON! Hint: There are enough options here to fill a long weekend, if not a week!

A Perfect Day in Middleton — OUTDOORS

HIKING, BIKING, SIGHTSEEING, BIRD WATCHING AT PHEASANT BRANCH CONSERVANCY

MORNING: Fuel up with a cinnamon bun or breakfast skillet from Prairie Café and Bakery, or grab something from Scooter’s drive-through on your way to Pheasant Branch Conservancy.

PHEASANT BRANCH: Hop in the car for a very short drive to any of the access points of Pheasant Branch Conservancy — 549 acres of beautiful, protected conservancy land. All Middleton parks and conservancy lands are free — no permits are required. For a relatively short but beautiful hike, we suggest beginning with parking by the historical marker at 4865 Pheasant Branch Road and hiking up to Frederick’s Hill with beautiful views of the area, including a Native American effigy mound and the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Another easy access point is Orchid Heights Park (3960 Valley Ridge Road), which has public restrooms, seating, tables, grills, and a scenic 3.5-mile loop through the Conservancy. It’s the perfect place to have a picnic! You can pick up supplies at the Metro Market or Willy Street Co-op grocery on your way to the park.

On the south side of the conservancy is a beautiful bridge that is often photographed along the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor Trail.

Bird watching: Are you a birder? Pheasant Branch Conservancy is home to more than 200 different species of birds.

Bike trails: Looking for a bike trail in Middleton? There are trails throughout the conservancy and on the west side of town at 4351 Schwartz Road. Check out more here. See and download a map here.

Looking for a smaller park? Playground equipment? Dog parks? Click here.

FOOD TIME: When it’s time to break for lunch or dinner, there are so many options on the northeast side of Middleton. Choose from breakfast food at C’s Restaurant & Bakery, submarine sandwiches, salads and premade meals at Gino’s Italian Deli, burger and fries at Craftsman Table & Tap, fish fry at Mid Town Pub, Indian food at Amber Indian Cuisine, modern “like” supper club food from the historic 1847 at the Stamm House and Mexican food from Pasqual’s Cantina, Camino Real Mexican restaurant or Taqueria Jalisco. Then, stop into Miggy’s Bakes for delicious baked goods that are almost too cute to eat. Make sure to check out business hours before choosing where to dine, some restaurants are only open for lunch or dinner.

PLEASANT VIEW GOLF COURSE

MORNING: Enjoy breakfast at the Goat Hill Grill at the golf course, or grab a fantastic diner breakfast at Hubbard Avenue Diner or an Albanian-American breakfast spread at Sofra Family Bistro — both in downtown Middleton, about seven minutes from the course.

PLEASANT VIEW GOLF COURSE:  Maybe living your best day includes a combo of outdoors and sport, in that case, Pleasant View Golf Course on the west side of Middleton is the perfect answer. Enjoy 27 holes of well-maintained championship golf, a nine-hole scenic par 3 course and an outstanding practice range. The course was awarded gold in Madison Magazine’s Best of Golf Courses for 2018-2020 and 2022, and silver in 2021 and 2023.

FOOD: No need to even leave the course, you can enjoy The Goat Hill Grill, open for outdoor seating — weather permitting — and there is a full-service bar. The grill offers Wisconsin bar fare such as cheese curds, fried pickle spears, burgers, sandwiches, and more. The Grill also serves light breakfast options, like English muffins and bagels — and the heartier Hole-N-One breakfast, all before 11 a.m.

The golf course is minutes from Greenway Station — an outdoor shopping and dining center — offering multiple great food options. If looking for something quick, make a stop at Freska Mediterranean Grill, Cafe Zupa’s, Noodles & Company, and Jersey Mike’s. If you have time to spare, there are also multiple great dine-in options, from Dhaba Indian Bistro to Ancho & Agave, to Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, Fuji Sushi & Hibachi and Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano.

There are multiple great dining options downtown, all of which are unique to Middleton. Downtown dining options include Longtable Beer Cafe, Taigu Chinese Restaurant, Taza Mediterranean Cafe, Villa Dolce, Sofra Family Bistro, The Village Green, Hubbard Avenue Diner, Takara 88 Japanese Restaurant, Compadres Mexican, Free House Pub, Fajitas, Tapas & Bar, Louisianne’s ETC., and just north of downtown off Parmenter Street, you will find Paul’s Neighborhood Bar & Restuarant, Trio Ramen, Jet’s Pizza and Pikkito. Don’t forget dessert from Clasen’s European Bakery or Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream.

ON THE WATER

MORNING:  There are so many fun breakfast options in Middleton from hometown diners and cafes like C’s Restaurant & Bakery, Prairie Café & Bakery, Hubbard Avenue Diner, Grace Coffee and Barriques. In a hurry? Hit up the drive-through at MOKA, Scooter’s or one of the two Starbucks locations (one in Greenway Station and one on the way to Marshall Park).

MARSHALL BOATS:  There are boat docks at Marshall Park to drop your own seafaring vessel, but if looking to rent something floatable to enjoy on Lake Mendota, stop by Marshall Boats, Board & Boat Rentals. Marshall Boats rents pontoons, kayaks, tandem kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes. They also offer a lakeside patio that can be enjoyed by any patron or reserved for parties of up to 50. Marshall Boats is open (summer hours) from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fall hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday (starting Sept. 5, 2023).

LUNCH: After a morning on the water, grab lunch and continue enjoying the outdoors with a picnic in one of Middleton’s parks. Pick up provisions at Metro Market or Willy Street Co-op, or grab a delicious meal to-go from ILike Sushi, Gino’s Italian Deli, Taqueria Jalisco, Amber Indian Cuisine, Jimmy Johns, and more.

DINNER: After a full day on the water, it’s essential to recharge. Middleton has more than 80 dining options and many have outdoor patios — like Craftsman Table & Tap, 1847 at the Stamm House, Longtable Beer Cafe, Free House Pub, Ancho & Agave, Trio Ramen, Tanner’s Bar & Grill, The Village Green and more. Middleton’s restaurant scene offers a world of flavors from Japanese to Mediterranean to Indian to Chinese to Mexican to Italian to Albanian-American to the flavors of New Orleans!

A Perfect Day in Middleton —
SHOP-DINE-RELAX

Shop-Dine-Relax in downtown Middleton and Greenway Station!

MORNING:  Ease into your day and enjoy a leisurely diner breakfast at Hubbard Avenue Diner, the café experience at Grace Coffee or Barriques, or an Albanian-American breakfast spread at Sofra Family Bistro — all in downtown Middleton.

RETAIL THERAPY: With more than 50 shops and boutiques, Middleton is the perfect place to shop the day away. Find well-known brands at Greenway Station’s outdoor shopping center, including World Market, DSW, HomeGoods, J. Jill, LOFT, Marshalls and more.

Stroll through a very walkable downtown to find locally owned boutiques in downtown Middleton, including Chauette Fashion & Home, Cloth & Metal Boutique, Journeyman Co., The Regal Find, John/Christine Designs, Little Pop Color Shop, Diny’s Jewelers, Tradition Women’s Market and Tradition Children’s Market.

RELAX: Looking for a little self-care? Check out Happy Nails and Spa, Ideal Image, Renu Massage Energy and Bodywork, Elements Massage, ANiU Salon & Spa, Massage Envy, Blue October Spa, Studio 262 Salon, and more.

ADULT BEVERAGES: Wisconsin isn’t shy at embracing good food and good drinks. Enjoy a beer at World of Beer, and drinks on the outdoor patios of Longtable Beer Cafe, Craftsman Table & Tap, Free House Pub, and Mid Town Pub. And of course, you cannot visit Middleton without enjoying Capital Brewery & Bier Garten in downtown Middleton. This German-style brewery is located in a historic building and is walkable from multiple restaurants and shops downtown.  Want to relax with a glass of wine in a cozy wine bar or on an outdoor café? Grape Water Wine Bar is the answer! And head to Hidden Cave Cidery for fresh, high-quality, unique hard cider.

ACTIVITIES:  I’m Board! Family Games and Fun — has a vast selection of games for the whole family.

ART LOVERS: Pick up or just appreciate local and regional art, jewelry and gifts at Gary’s Art & Frame Shop, John/Christine Designs, The Regal Find, Cloth & Metal Boutique, Diny’s Jewelers and St. John the Baptist Art Gallery.

The Middleton Public Art Trail is an easy guide to 14 public art installations, from sculpture to stained glass to painted murals. Some of the stops are walkable downtown, while others require transportation to visit. We suggest picking up a delicious coffee or specialty drink from one of our many cafés — Grace Coffee, Barriques, Scooter’s, Starbucks, Hubbard Avenue Diner — and enjoying the trail!

HISTORY LOVERS: Take a leisurely stroll through Middleton’s history with the help of the Middleton Area Historical Society’s free, guided Historic Downtown Middleton Stroll & Tell or a self-guided Historical Walking Tour. You can also jump in the car and visit the stops on the Middleton Landmark Tour.

LUNCH & DINNER: With more than 80 options for dining—the sky is the limit. Check out Middleton’s restaurants here!

DON’T FORGET

NATIONAL MUSTARD MUSEUM: You cannot come to Middleton and not check out the National Mustard Museum — home to 6,000 mustards, a free museum and a quirky shop. Come and enjoy the free museum while finding the perfect souvenirs to take home to friends or enjoy for yourself.

SWEET TREATS: Sometimes after a long day filled with fun, we all feel like a little sweet reward. Find ice cream at Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Cold Stone Creamery and Culver’s. You can pick up multiple gelato flavors and an assortment of Italian desserts at Villa Dolce. Looking for cakes, candies, truffles and bakery items that would put grandma to shame? Clasen’s European Bakery will surprise and delight. And, head on over to Miggy’s Bakes for the ultimate sweet satisfaction; choose from a case full of unique-flavored cookies, cookie cups, brownies and bars, and, on Saturdays and Sundays, you can treat yourself to cinnamon rolls right out of the oven.

LODGING: Choose from one of NINE hotel properties which are all just minutes from everything mentioned in these lists! Click here to see all nine properties.

ANNUAL EVENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO: 

Art Walk Middleton is May 18, 2024, and is a free event featuring the works of dozens of fine artists in a variety of media.

Greenway Station Farmers Market is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday, May 4 – Oct. 5, 2023; find homemade and homegrown jams, baked goods, veggies, flowers, honey, Maple syrup, cheese curds, and so much more.

Experience the largest pre-OSH fly-in bash, Rock the Ramp, each July at Capital Flight.

National Mustard Day is Aug. 3, 2024, at the National Mustard Museum. It’s a day of music, fun activities and of course, lots of mustard!

Enjoy an auto show like no other at Capital Flight Cruise-In. This event is a fundraiser for Cars Curing Kids and takes place each August.

Good Neighbor Festival is Aug. 23-25, 2024, and is a community celebration open to all.

Strollin’ Middleton Jazz Festival is Sept. 6-7, 2024, and is free and open to all.

Haunted Hustle is Oct. 21, 2023, is a quirky walk/run through Middleton.

See Stone Horse Green come alive for the winter holiday season with Light The Green from 5-7 p.m. on November 25.

The City of Middleton Parks and Recreation Department hosts a Candy Cane Hunt that is filled with lots of holiday cheer.

Bockfest at Capital Brewery & Bier Garten every February is a winter outdoor festival with live music.

QUICK HITS:

Click here for a full list of events happening in Middleton

Click here to view or order our current visitor guide

Click here to sign up for our free tourism newsletter (twice a month/unsubscribe at any time)

When Sue Bakke was considering moving her women’s clothing boutique from rural Paoli to Middleton, it was a big decision that led her to a simple act.

She sat on a bench.

“I watched how many people walked down the street and I observed,” she said. “Was there enough foot traffic (in Middleton) to support a higher scale boutique? What I saw really excited me. I saw a future here.”

Inspired, Bakke moved her business, Chauette Home & Fashion, to a city she could see was vibrant and on its way up. Chauette has been in Middleton since, and is now located on the first floor of the historic Middleton Opera House.

“I get excited every day I walk in the door,” Bakke said.

Many boutiques, Bakke said, tend to stock items that are in muted colors. Chauette is not one of those stores.

“I love brighter colors,” Bakke said. “It’s kind of fun to go in (to Chauette) because it makes you look good and it makes you feel good. It’s not boring.”

Chauette’s name comes from a French slang word meaning, “great,” or “cool.” It carries a full line of women’s fashion, including shoes, purses, and outerwear. It also has a selection of housewares, greeting cards and gifts. Bakke said her customers range in age from women in their 20s to  their 80s and she has many loyal customers.

“I try to buy various lines,” she said. “Some are more contemporary, but I also have more traditional ware.”

The store carries designers like Karen Kane, Nic & Zoe and Joseph Ribkoff.
Chauette’s housewares also include a variety of brands, including Juliska tableware — the store is one of the only retailers in Wisconsin to offer the line.

“You can come in and buy your whole kitchen’s dinnerware, including your placemats — everything,” Bakke said.

When the pandemic put a temporary pause on in-person shopping last year, Bakke worked with an employee to put the store’s offerings online. She also began doing curbside pickup and delivery.

“It really helped because women could still shop (when the store was closed,” she said. “It really helped.”

Bakke never went to school for merchandising or design — she’s completely self-taught. But she was always meant to be in this business. Back when Bakke was in high school, she designed and sewed her own clothes and she also started a small business reselling clothing.

“Obviously I’ve been thinking about this a long time and I love it,” Bakke said. “It’s hard for me to think about doing anything else.”

Chauette Home & Fashion
1827 Parmenter St., Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 836-5366
shopchauette.com
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

In downtown Middleton, there’s a men’s store where every garment has a story.

“This is made in Seattle,” said Todd Christiansen, owner of Journeyman Co., as he cradled a burly wool jacket. “It’s been made since 1903 using Pendleton wool and it’s an original jacket for hunting and logging.”

The story and the details are important to Christiansen, who opened this shop in 2018. He selects each garment carefully, considering where and how it was made, how it fits and how it looks and functions.

He draws on a lifetime of experience in the industry — previously working at Lands’ End in retail, inventory and merchandising, as well as at TravelSmith in San Francisco.

His shop, Journeyman Co., carries tops, bottoms, outerwear and more from companies like Taylor Stitch and Barbour. He also sells an exclusive Journeyman line, which includes items like classic well-made rugby shirts and sweaters made in partnership with Harley of Scotland.

“Most of the brands in here I’ve run across in my 25 years of experience,” Christiansen said. “They are brands that I like — most of these brands are in my closet.”

When Journeyman carries a wool jacket, there is a reason.

“Not only is it made in the United States, but it’s made, really, really well,” he said, admiring the jacket he pulled off the rack. “The fabric will hold 30 percent of its weight in water, and still keep you warm, without feeling damp.”

Christiansen also strives to offer a level of service you might not find elsewhere. Sometimes, he brings specific items into his store that he would not ordinarily carry in order to help a single customer complete a look.

“This is about more than just selling clothing, it’s about building relationships, helping people and helping people build their wardrobe,” he said.

When the pandemic hit, Christiansen was forced to pivot. A health order temporarily closed small businesses like Journeyman and it posed a big challenge to the small shop.

“I had an online business, but at the time I was 95 percent focused on the store experience, less on the online experience,” he said.

While Journeyman offered deliveries and curbside service during those weeks of closure, Christiansen used the time to invest in his online store. It has been an exciting development for the business.

“I’m definitely reaching out to new markets and I’m shipping all over the United States and to Australia, Europe,” he said. “It’s something to be closing and going home for dinner and to be having a couple sales happen. The store is not open, but the website is at work. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Despite the online success, Christiansen doesn’t envision an online-only future.

“The store allows me to build a brand,” he explains. “It’s tough to build a brand on a website. When you can three-dimensionally build out your ideas and your looks … this is where the ideas happen.”

While Christiansen has built his brand around products with a story, along the way he’s written the next chapter of his own story. Christiansen said he always wanted to open his own business and as his 50th birthday approached, he realized it was time, so he opened Journeyman. He said he’s now engaged in the details of his business every day and he loves it.

“Work is no longer work,” he said. “It’s just my life. That’s a big deal and it’s pretty freeing.”

About Journeyman Co.
7525 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 203-6545
journeymanshop.com
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

To be a florist, Sharyl LaBelle has learned, is to sometimes be a therapist.

LaBelle, owner of Promises Floral and Gift Studio in Middleton, is there for her clients on the most important of days, offering support, advice and the perfect bouquet.

“I love being in on the surprise,” she said. “When a guy comes in and says, ‘I need some flowers because I’m going to propose to my girlfriend tonight,’ I’m so excited. I hope he tells me how it went.”

LaBelle is also there on the most difficult of days, ready with her flowers and her heart. Sometimes, the moment is simply too much, even for a florist with decades of experience.

“I’ve had to step away from my designing at times,” she said, recalling past tragic circumstances. “I’ve thought, ‘I need a little breather because this one is getting hard to figure out.’”

LaBelle always comes back to her floral shears. She says she absolutely loves operating her small flower business on Allen Boulevard, because she knows the work she does here matters.

“I’m the little conduit in between,” she said. “Bridging the love and the care.”

LaBelle began working in the floral industry in the early ’90s after she graduated from college. She stepped away from the industry to raise her children before returning and opening her shop in 2012. She first had a location on the west side of Madison, before moving to Middleton in 2018.

“I opened (the business) from scratch,” she said. “I wanted to be able to do my own thing and build it from the start. It’s been a fun adventure — it was very scary to start, but it’s been great to know I’ve built this thing.”

The business is currently providing no-contact deliveries. It contacts recipients via phone call or text message to make sure the delivery time will work.

“We’ll place the flowers on the front porch and send you a text to retrieve them when we have delivered them,” LaBelle said. “That way, we won’t have direct contact.”

The shop is open for walk-in service and it also offers curbside pickup.

“We’ll bring the flowers out to your vehicle,” she said. “We’re working to meet everybody’s needs the best that we can, as safely as we can.”

The pandemic has changed life dramatically for so many and LaBelle sees those changes every day. Last spring, there were brides who had to cancel or postpone their weddings. As the months passed, older adults in assisted living centers spent birthdays and holidays separated from their families. Days of grief came for families who were unable to gather for a funeral.

LaBelle helped her customers with all of these circumstances, crafting their arrangements and helping them find the perfect words for the cards, when none would come.

“Most people don’t know how to say what they are trying to convey,” said LaBelle, who asks her customers questions, listens and takes careful notes.

“I’ll say, ‘let me read this back to you, what do we need to adjust?’”

In LaBelle’s shop, the floral orders for happy occasions far outnumber the sad ones.  But she understands the significance of every order.

Sometimes, LaBelle delivers arrangements to patients in hospice care.

“My thought is, this might be the last thing they see, as they transition to what happens next,” she said. “Those flowers are going to be the last thing they see. Those flowers are going to be the last thing they smell. I don’t take that lightly. I take that very seriously.”

LaBelle said she knows in her heart that she is meant to be a florist.

“It’s a calling,” she said. “I got into this because I loved creating, and the flowers and the design, but as I’ve learned along the way, it’s so much more than that.”

About Promises Floral and Gift Studio
2506 Allen Blvd, Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 833-3279
promisesfloralandgiftstudio.com

Hours: Open daily but hours vary; check the shop’s Google listing for the latest information.

Meet Your Good Neighbor Front Porch Series: Cloth & Metal Boutique

Lisa McGuire’s passion for jewelry design initially led to a lot of time on the road.

“It was just about every weekend in the summer,” said McGuire, who once sold her handmade jewelry at craft shows. “A lot of people asked me if I had a storefront. I didn’t.”

In 2019 McGuire parked the car and took the plunge. She found the perfect space for a retail store on Parmenter Street and she opened Cloth & Metal Boutique.

McGuire said she felt Middleton’s downtown was the ideal place to start her venture.

“I could see this was an up-and-coming area,” she said.

McGuire has a special talent for art and design. She studied art in college, obtaining a degree in metalsmithing. She primarily creates jewelry in sterling silver, although uses other metals like copper and gold.

The boutique showcases McGuire’s custom jewelry as well as select women’s apparel from lines that McGuire carefully sources.

“I try to have either local artists or designers from the U.S. in here,” she said. “I’m really conscious about the things that we have.”

In addition to prioritizing clothes that are made in the United States, Cloth & Metal also showcases brands focused on sustainability, regardless of where they are made.

Even the store’s hangers are made from recycled cardboard.

“It’s about being conscious of what’s going on in the world and obviously what we are doing to the Earth,” McGuire said. “If we don’t make some serious changes, we could be in some trouble down the road.”

McGuire said that her boutique is also about selling items that have enduring value.

“I want to make sure that a garment that I sell here is going to last a while,” she said. “I want to make sure these are things you can wear for years and years. Here you might pay a little more, but you are definitely going to find better quality.”

When the pandemic hit, Cloth & Metal had only been open about nine months.  McGuire said it hasn’t been an easy time for the retail industry, but she already had an online store, which helped her connect with customers, even when they were unable to shop in person.

“I have a pretty good following that gave me the support that they were able to,” she said, acknowledging that many of her customers have also faced more challenging times. “Even if they just purchased one item, rather than three, as they normally would, it helped.”

McGuire said she’s made careful decisions about the items she selected to keep her inventory in line with her customer’s needs and she’s implemented enhanced cleaning and social distancing policies to keep her retail space safe.

“There are a few more steps that we have to do each day but I think it helps people feel a little more comfortable and at ease,” she said.

McGuire said she has loved getting to know her customers.

“It’s not about the purchases that they make, it’s about the relationships,” she said. “I think of them as friends.”

In the days when McGuire was working craft shows, she supplemented her income by working in sales. But she knew that one day, she would be the one who owned the store.

“I always wanted to be my own boss,” she said, after opening the boutique one recent morning. “I never wanted to go through life wondering, ‘what if?’”

About Cloth & Metal Boutique
7531 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 203-8891
clothandmetalboutique.com
Current hours: Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Closed on Sunday

In downtown Middleton, you’ll find a former 1800s hardware store that has big, beautiful windows and old wooden floors that creak. It’s where everything came together for Jessica Regele.

“I found this great space in downtown Middleton and it all melded,” said Regele, who opened her shop in 2013, The Regal Find, in this historic space.

The shop offers a curated collection of eclectic handmade items and gifts.

“I always loved retail and I loved art and handcrafted items,” Regele said. “(The store) was sort of a marriage of these things.”

Regele expanded her shop into an adjacent space in 2019 and now anchors the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Parmenter Street. The store allows Regele to do what she loves most: help people solve problems and find what they need.

“A lot of customers have something specific that they are seeking,” she said. “For example, they might be looking for a gift for someone who is battling cancer and they want something special.”

Regele is happy to help, and her store has a lot to offer.

The shop sells unique and beautiful items created by 150 special artisans, including many from the local area — the shop features 90 artists from Wisconsin and 68 artists from Dane County.

Regele has developed relationships with many of these artists and said she’s honored to showcase their creations.

“(For an artist), it’s like passing your babies to someone else to take care of,” she said.

While the Covid-19 pandemic has posed challenges, The Regal Find is open with careful safety protocols.

“We really want to make people happy and we hope (the store) offers a break from the everyday,” she said.

People who are not comfortable shopping in person may contact the store directly by phone, schedule a Facetime appointment for personal service or visit The Regal Find’s new online store.

The store offers curbside service, free gift wrapping, and special curated gift baskets — for example, a kit for dog lovers includes special dry dog shampoo, whimsical cards, a pocket mirror magnet and candle to “fix” certain dog odors.

Regele said she’s really happy when she sees customers remove themselves from the difficulties of the day and lose themselves in the whimsical world of her store.

“It feels very good to be offering that to people,” she said.

It’s been a challenging year for small businesses. Recently, she was working on her store’s holiday window displays when she momentarily questioned the effort.

“I hope this is all worth it,” she thought, as she surveyed her work.

Just then, a longtime customer happened by and commented on the beauty of the displays.

“OK, I can do this,” Regele said to herself.

About The Regal Find
1834 Parmenter St., Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 833-1633
theregalfind.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m.

Many of the board games you’ll find on the shelves in I’m Board! Games & Family Fun in Middleton are meant to be played for a long time. These are games that evolve as they are played — they tell a story, and they just might help the player make some friends.

Bryan Winter, owner of I’m Board!, has been playing the game a long time.

Winter first worked in a game store as a college student in Ann Arbor, Mich. He then became a product manager for a leading distributor of comic books, trading cards and games. Later, Winter worked as a freelance game designer, then in marketing for 15 years, and finally, he moved his playing piece back to the first square.

“I decided to go back to what I love — selling games,” Winter said.  “I spent a year putting together a business plan, obtaining the funding and here we are.”

Winter’s passion and knowledge of the game industry came together in I’m Board! and the store has flourished. Winter opened his flagship Middleton store nine years ago; he opened a second location in Sun Prairie two years ago.

Winter’s store doesn’t really compete with big online retailers — it’s playing its own game, so to speak.

“The Internet will always have a better selection and price,” Winter explains. “But we offer so much more in our community and with our event place and our knowledge and our willingness to share that knowledge.”

Winter said his analog board games fill a need created by the digital world.

“As the world has become more and more digital, it’s become easier to self-isolate” he said. “People are looking for ways to get out and socialize and games are a great way to do that. Not everyone likes to go out to the bar. You can still be silly and social, or you can be thinking and strategic, they can be whatever they want … playing a board game is a great sort of catalyst to bring all of that together.”

The store has an expansive gaming area that in non-pandemic times is a busy place. Winter said that on a slow weekend night, there might have been a dozen people playing games. On a busy weekend, when the store was sponsoring a game tournament, 250 people would have visited the game tables.

While the game tables are temporarily closed, the store is serving customers through its web portal, via a walk-in business, and with curbside pick-up and delivery service.  Winter said the games provide a good outlet for people who are spending more time at home these days.

“It’s really been a very good way for people to spend their time,” he said. “They’ve watched everything on Netflix and they need something else to do.”

Winter said his primary customer base includes people in their 20s up to people in their 50s, although the store has customers of all ages, including kids. People who are interested in purchasing a game but don’t know where to start (the store has 2,000 titles) can chat with Winter’s staff by phone or in person. He said his staff is incredibly knowledgeable and very good at helping customers find the perfect game.

For the moment, the store’s gaming area is being used as temporary warehouse space. Winter said that while the store is fairing financially better than many other businesses, he misses seeing all the regular friendly faces and he’s looking to the day when they can return to his game tables.

Ultimately, games are about players and interaction and Winter can’t provide a simple answer when asked about his favorite game title — he said his favorite depends on who he is playing with.

He’s just happy to be in the game.

About I’m Board! Games & Family Fun
6917 University Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 831-6631
imboardgames.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Wuebben cherished the outing.

“Over the years that shopping experience started going away (in the world),” she said. “Where do you really take your child to learn about shopping? I couldn’t find those places anymore.”

Thanks to Wuebben, you can find such a place in Middleton. She celebrates the tradition of family shopping in her shop on Parmenter Street, in the heart of downtown.

Tradition Market is actually two connected stores. The flagship store is Tradition Children’s Market, a shop that features a selection of high-quality apparel and toys for young children (newborn to age 10). The market carries 40 brands from all over the world.

Tradition Women’s Market is located next door and carries a selection of fine apparel at accessible prices.

“For the most part, the products are things that you should get a lot of use out of,” Wuebben said. “All of the women who shop with us are busy, whether they are business owners, mothers or students. They are just busy but they want to look great.”

Wuebben did not launch her retail venture on a whim. She graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in textiles and fashion design and spent a year at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She built a deep resume—working as an assistant to a vice president at Burberry in London, as an assistant designer at Land’s End,  a fashion illustration instructor at UW-Madison and an accessory buyer for Kmart Apparel in San Francisco.

She opened Tradition Market in 2016.

“It took a little wandering through the fashion industry to understand that definitely having a store is what I wanted,” she said. “I love everything about retail. I love how it changes daily. I love the customer interaction. I love the creativity behind displays. I love the financial part of it, crunching numbers. All of it.”

Wuebben said she acquired a lot of skills from her years working in the industry and she’s leaning on those skills to navigate the business challenges of the pandemic. Her stores are currently open for walk-in customers four days a week, and people can also shop through personal assistance via their preferred communication method. Customers may call the store, email or send inquiries via Instagram and Facebook. Wuebben said the store will send pictures or video of merchandise as needed. She said the store also takes appointments with customers via Zoom or FaceTime.

Wuebben has gotten to know many of her customers by name over the last few years and has made many friends along the way.

She has also seen the tradition of family shopping flourish in her shop.

“It’s one of my favorite things,” she said. “Mothers, parents, grandparents and aunts, actually bringing in their children.”

Wuebben said she was very close to her grandmother, and as a child shared her dreams about working in fashion and opening her own store. While her grandmother did not live long enough to see the shop open, traditions have a way of continuing.

In Wuebben’s waiting area, you’ll find two vintage leather chairs.

They belonged to Wuebben’s grandparents.

About Tradition Market

1823 Parmenter St.
Middleton, WI 53562
(608)841-2345
tradition.market
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

A perfectly poured glass of wine can change the course of a life.

That’s what happened to Nicki Prestigiacomo, who visited a wine bar and was taken in by the establishment’s high-tech Italian-made wine dispensers. The self-serve dispensers kept the wine at a perfect temperature, and with the swipe of a card, delivered the perfect pour.

Prestigiacomo, who was working in IT at the time, had been pondering a career change.

“Oh my gosh, these dispensers are so fun,” she thought, as she poured a glass. “This is it.”

And so began the adventure of Grape Water Wine Bar. The establishment, which opened in 2017, is located on Hubbard Avenue in the heart of downtown Middleton. Its motto is emblazoned across the front window.

“Unsnobbing the wine bar, one glass at a time.”

That’s Prestigiacomo’s aim, and she has built Grape Water around that simple idea.

“You don’t have to get all dressed up to enjoy a good wine,” she explained.

Grape Water’s self-service system is simple and fun to use: Scan a card, select a wine and the size of the pour and settle up when you’re ready to leave. The system allows customers to choose pours of various sizes while enjoying an environment that is as relaxing as home. Prestigiacomo said the small pours are especially popular.

“You can try several ones and not be committed to a full glass,” she said

Because of the current health order, Grape Water’s seating is limited to outside tables (weather permitting), although the wine bar is holding some DIY Wine Tasting Events inside. Check Eventbrite for more information. The wine bar is also selling wine by the bottle curbside and it has some playful gift boxes available online.

For example, the “Treat Yo’self Kit” includes your choice of a sparkling wine, a bag of GW popcorn or Slide Gourmet Potato Chips, a champagne flute and straw and a coupon for a free small pour at Grape Water.

Prestigiacomo said she’s coming up with creative ideas like this to help keep the business going during the health order — she simply can’t imagine working anywhere else.

That’s how it’s been every day since she started the wine bar. Prestigiacomo said she’s never worked in a bar or restaurant before and had no idea what she was doing when she opened the place.

“Either I jumped over the cliff eyes wide open or eyes wide shut, I don’t know,” she said with a laugh. “But that’s how it all went down. I just decided I was going to do it.”

When Prestigiacomo decided to open the wine bar, everything just fell into place — the location, the liquor license and a million small details. Prestigiacomo said she feels like she’s doing exactly what she is meant to do and she’s glad she didn’t not overthink the venture, because she might have changed her mind.

“Was this the smartest move?” she said, sitting near the dispensers that started it all. “Who cares. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

About Grape Water Wine Bar

7466 Hubbard Avenue

Middleton, WI 53562

(608) 692-6778

grapewater.wine

Hours:  Tuesday-Wednesday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, 4 p.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday-Monday, closed.

Enjoy the best of both worlds

When you’re attending an event or business function in Madison, make time to shop! Book a Middleton hotel and enjoy a relaxing trip – you’ll be just 10 minutes from downtown Madison and in the heart of a vibrant dining and shopping destination.

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Middleton has received national recognition for the quality of its parks and trails. You can access these green spaces from all of Middleton’s hotels and they border Middleton’s main shopping districts.

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Seven out of eight hotels in Middleton offer Travel Green Certification and Middleton’s hotels are ranked highly in their respective chains. Friendly staff members offer award-winning customer service. Be prepared to be impressed!

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