One of the best parts about the great state of Wisconsin is how no matter where you are, you feel like you’re in a small town. You know your neighbors and have local stores and things can be slowed down a bit and old-fashioned in the best possible ways.
The local grocery store is one of the last holdovers of the old small town feel. Folks meet up and chat, stock up and grab a meal. We have some great small, family-owned stores all around the state. Here are some of our favorites.
- The Original Austin’s Grocery Store - Green Bay
Facebook/TheOriginalAustinsGroceryStore
Facebook/TheOriginalAustinsGroceryStore Reviewers say stepping in this place is like stepping back in time in the best possible way. This small-town, family-owned grocer is now a part of a much bigger Green Bay, but it’s a definite throwback. Located at 823 S Webster Ave, Green Bay, WI 54301.
- Golden Harvest - Rhinelander
Yelp/Ethan T
Yelp/Tatum S Tucked up north, this place feels like it could be in a much bigger, trendier area. Folks up there say they drive an hour to specifically get there and load up on stuff. Located at 3215 County Hwy G, Rhinelander, WI 54501.
- Glorioso’s - Milwaukee
Yelp/Leah B.
Yelp/Jonathan E. This place is a Milwaukee east side institution. The area had a big Italian population and this local grocer served them. Now, it has a spectacular take out counter and deli for quick lunch, fresh pizza dough and great produce, among other things. Located at 1011 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
- The Free Market - Appleton
Yelp/TheFreeMarket
Yelp/TheFreeMarket Locals love that you can get locally made and processed meats, vegetables, fruits and dairy here. It’s a small, but awesome local market. Located at 734 W Wisconsin Ave, Appleton, WI 54914.
- Sendik’s - Milwaukee area
Facebook/Sendiks
Facebook/Sendiks Originally a wagon that peddled produce up and down the streets of Milwaukee, Sendik’s has grown to be a staple of suburban Milwaukee. With a stellar meat counter, a ton of pre-made meals and quality ingredients, you will love a trip to Sendik’s. Locations in Franklin, Greenfield, West Milwaukee, New Berlin, Wauwatosa, Elm Grove, Whitefish Bay, Brookfield, Mequon, Hartland, Germantown, Grafton, West Bend and Waukesha.
- Gooseberries - Burlington
Yelp/Stephanie G.
Facebook/GooseberriesMarket Customers call it down-to-earth and love that they take suggestions for what to carry. Locals know it for their spectacular catering and huge wine selection. Located at 690 W. State Street, Burlington, WI 53105.
- People’s Food Co-Op - La Crosse
Facebook/Pfccoop
Yelp/Jenny A. L. The best organic selection in town, a huge vegan section, a great take-out, salad bar and deli and the best produce selection in town. Located at 315 5th Ave S, La Crosse, WI 54601.
- Outpost - Milwaukee
Yelp/Steve S.
Yelp/Steve S. In true Wisconsin fashion, customers love this place for their cheese selection. They’re located in places all over the city and offer a lot of things in bulk. Locations in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee and Bay View.
- Green Grocer - Williams Bay
Facebook/GreenGrocerWB
Facebook/GreenGrocerWB This place is the only option in Williams Bay, but locals say it’s got pretty much everything you could ever want, plus a killer deli. Located at 24 W Geneva St, Williams Bay, WI 53191.
- Main Street Market - Egg Harbor
Facebook/MainStreetMarket
Facebook/MainStreetMarket Options are kind of few and far between in Door County and this place not only fills the void, but does it with style. It’s old-school and the service is absolutely stellar. Located at 7770 Wisconsin 42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209.
- Willy Street Co-Op - Madison Area
Facebook/Willy Street Co-Op
Facebook/WillyStreetCoOp The best of the best in a city that focuses on fresh, clean eating and living. They keep getting bigger because people love them so much. Three Madison locations.
- Hill Country Market - Salem
Yelp/Charles B
Yelp/HillCountryMarket High-end, fancy and perfect, folks love their deli and wine section. As someone said, where else can you get food, a massage, a haircut and landscaping products. Located at Address: 7510 288th Ave, Salem, WI 53168.
- Tenuta’s - Racine
Yelp/Mark C
Yelp/Cat L Much like Glorioso’s, this place first served their local Italian community, but has lasted for decades because of their delicious food and products. Located at 3203 52nd St, Kenosha, WI 53144.
- Driftless Depot - Spring Green
Yelp/Monica H
Yelp/Monica H Part cafe, part organic store, customers talk about how much the folks here really love what they do. Located at 140 S Winsted St, Spring Green, WI 53588.
Looking for another interesting Wisconsin store? Check out The Little-Known Wisconsin Store That Will Bring Out Your Inner Nerd.
Facebook/TheOriginalAustinsGroceryStore
Reviewers say stepping in this place is like stepping back in time in the best possible way. This small-town, family-owned grocer is now a part of a much bigger Green Bay, but it’s a definite throwback. Located at 823 S Webster Ave, Green Bay, WI 54301.
Yelp/Ethan T
Yelp/Tatum S
Tucked up north, this place feels like it could be in a much bigger, trendier area. Folks up there say they drive an hour to specifically get there and load up on stuff. Located at 3215 County Hwy G, Rhinelander, WI 54501.
Yelp/Leah B.
Yelp/Jonathan E.
This place is a Milwaukee east side institution. The area had a big Italian population and this local grocer served them. Now, it has a spectacular take out counter and deli for quick lunch, fresh pizza dough and great produce, among other things. Located at 1011 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Yelp/TheFreeMarket
Locals love that you can get locally made and processed meats, vegetables, fruits and dairy here. It’s a small, but awesome local market. Located at 734 W Wisconsin Ave, Appleton, WI 54914.
Facebook/Sendiks
Originally a wagon that peddled produce up and down the streets of Milwaukee, Sendik’s has grown to be a staple of suburban Milwaukee. With a stellar meat counter, a ton of pre-made meals and quality ingredients, you will love a trip to Sendik’s. Locations in Franklin, Greenfield, West Milwaukee, New Berlin, Wauwatosa, Elm Grove, Whitefish Bay, Brookfield, Mequon, Hartland, Germantown, Grafton, West Bend and Waukesha.
Yelp/Stephanie G.
Facebook/GooseberriesMarket
Customers call it down-to-earth and love that they take suggestions for what to carry. Locals know it for their spectacular catering and huge wine selection. Located at 690 W. State Street, Burlington, WI 53105.
Facebook/Pfccoop
Yelp/Jenny A. L.
The best organic selection in town, a huge vegan section, a great take-out, salad bar and deli and the best produce selection in town. Located at 315 5th Ave S, La Crosse, WI 54601.
Yelp/Steve S.
In true Wisconsin fashion, customers love this place for their cheese selection. They’re located in places all over the city and offer a lot of things in bulk. Locations in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee and Bay View.
Facebook/GreenGrocerWB
This place is the only option in Williams Bay, but locals say it’s got pretty much everything you could ever want, plus a killer deli. Located at 24 W Geneva St, Williams Bay, WI 53191.
Facebook/MainStreetMarket
Options are kind of few and far between in Door County and this place not only fills the void, but does it with style. It’s old-school and the service is absolutely stellar. Located at 7770 Wisconsin 42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209.
Facebook/Willy Street Co-Op
Facebook/WillyStreetCoOp
The best of the best in a city that focuses on fresh, clean eating and living. They keep getting bigger because people love them so much. Three Madison locations.
Yelp/Charles B
Yelp/HillCountryMarket
High-end, fancy and perfect, folks love their deli and wine section. As someone said, where else can you get food, a massage, a haircut and landscaping products. Located at Address: 7510 288th Ave, Salem, WI 53168.
Yelp/Mark C
Yelp/Cat L
Much like Glorioso’s, this place first served their local Italian community, but has lasted for decades because of their delicious food and products. Located at 3203 52nd St, Kenosha, WI 53144.
Yelp/Monica H
Part cafe, part organic store, customers talk about how much the folks here really love what they do. Located at 140 S Winsted St, Spring Green, WI 53588.
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