West Side Stories
A Tosa resident for almost 20 years, Karen is a mom and freelance writer, addicted to playing tennis. When not on the tennis court, she spends the fall and winter in the stands at Green Bay Packer and Marquette basketball games.
Karen is the author of “Grab a Bite,” a dining out column and the former community columnist for the Wauwatosa NOW newspaper.
Can Restaurants AND Retail Thrive in Tosa?
There’s been a bit of hoopla recently about new businesses, specifically restaurants, in our village. First there’s Le Reve Patisserie and Cafe which has been going gangbusters since it opened last summer. Then there’s Café Hollander which is due to open in early summer once Zimmerman Design Group moves on.
What hasn’t been mentioned much, maybe because we don’t want to dwell on it, are the small businesses that are gone. First and foremost is Drew’s Variety Store. It’s not an exaggeration to say that if you bring up Drew’s in a conversation, people will talk about how much they miss it.
Then there’s Luna Day Spa, a nice place that closed suddenly, leaving many of us holding worthless gift certificates. Sadly, Jilly & George, next door to Luna, also closed, making us consider whether that strip of retail is temporarily cursed.
Now, Juxt Home and Baby is closing its doors and moving to a yet unknown location.
One has to wonder if our village is better suited to restaurants than retail. I truly hope not, for the sake of the many great retail establishments that remain. I guess that's up to us, the consumers, to decide.
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