Discover some Hidden Gems of Wauwatosa
Places to Shop in Wauwatosa
When you treat yourself to a weekend of shopping in Wauwatosa, you’re not only living your best life, but you’re also likely supporting a small, local business — and that support goes much further than you know.
Tosa’s small business owners make up a huge part of the magic of our charming town, and their shops are truly a must-visit for you to get the complete Tosa experience during your next getaway.
Plus, treat yourself to the ultimate shopping trip when you spend a day at Mayfair Mall and the Mayfair Collection — a shopping hub that makes up one of our five dynamic districts.
Harwood Ave Shops
Quaint Shops
Located in Tosa Village, you’ll find Harwood Ave, a street filled with quaint boutiques and plenty of unique surprises to take home with you.
To ensure you explore Harwood Ave’s shops from top to bottom, we recommend starting at Cream City Soap Company, which carries handcrafted aromatherapy products made from raw, fresh materials.
Start to make your way into the core of Tosa Village — the next stop is Mooi. Sort through an endless variety of personal care products, stationery, gifts, and much more.
Next, walk right next door to the Flannel Fox for anything from home accents to apparel to candles and more. Expect to find items inspired by the tranquility and adventure of up north, created by local artisans from the area and the upper midwest.
Once you cross over Harwood Ave from Flannel Fox, you’ll stumble upon Shop Privy, a woman-owned women’s clothing and accessories shop. Shop Privy was created by a Tosa-local in 2018, but officially opened its brick-and-mortar location on Harwood Ave in 2021.
Just steps away, you’ll definitely want to stop into Heinsight Leather. This woman-owned local business offers custom leather offerings, leather alterations and repair, a selection of jackets, shearlings, fur accessories, and handbags.
Next up: Magpie Jewelry & Metal Studio. Stop in for a wide selection of unique, artisan jewelry and gifts before taking a shopping break just steps away for a quick bite in the Village.
Tosa Village
Trendy Boutiques
After exploring Harwood Ave Shops and taking a much-needed lunch break, jump right back into your day of fun with the shops in Tosa Village.
Find the latest clothing and accessory trends from Salamander, a woman-owned shopping boutique. This adorable shop regularly has new pieces in store so you can stay on top of your style game for any season.
Located just below Salamander, check out Studio Ric Rak. This small, local business offers just about anything you can think of when it comes to home decor, clothing, and accessories. Be prepared to search through one-of-a-kind vintage finds and unique pieces.
Take a walk across the street to The Little Read Bookstore to pick up a favorite book or your next read. They are dedicated to the fine art of browsing and always have a helpful staff member ready to suggest a title.
Tosa Village is also home to The Flower Lady where you can find a stunning flower arrangement, cards, and small gifts all in one stop. The shop is situated in a show-stopping Queen Anne-style building that was constructed in 1897 — a beautiful building for a gorgeous shop!
68th & Wells District
Unique Places to Shop
A quaint little district with a larger-than-life personality, 68th & Wells is the perfect place to shop because it has quite a few hidden shopping gems scattered throughout.
Ruckus & Glee is a family-owned toy store that offers products that are chosen for their ability to engage the imagination (and for their quality, of course!). Stop in their store for a chance to learn a new game, send a wind-up toy on its way, or build a new marble run.
Last, but certainly not least, is Hyde Park MKE — a woman-owned local business featuring women’s clothing, accessories, and gifts, as well as tailoring and dry cleaning services. The store was opened in 1960 by the owner’s grandfather as a tailor and dry-clean-only business and since then has been passed down to the current owner.
Mayfair Mall & Mayfair Collection
Shopping District
One of the largest draws to our city is the Wauwatosa shopping center district: Mayfair Mall & Mayfair Collection.
Mayfair Mall features countless national retailers for just about every need, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, The Container Store, Crate & Barrel, Gap, Lululemon, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and more.
The mall also features small, local business owners, including Wisconsin Curated Collections — a Black-and-locally-owned retail store that sells a wide variety of products made by local artisans from across Wisconsin.
The Mayfair Collection is a mixed-use development with an outdoor shopping mall that includes Nordstrom Rack, T.J. Maxx, Ulta, Homegoods, J.Crew Factory, and Old Navy.
Learn more about where to stay, where to eat, and things to do while you’re here in Wauwatosa.