~ Kimberly Hand, Small Business Milwaukee
Destination: The Bake Sale
I headed to Becher Street in West Allis with one stop in mind: a neighborhood bakery and coffee shop I had heard about—particularly for its Sunday tradition known as Hot Ham Sundays. While I came for just the bakery, I discovered a lively little pocket nestled in West Allis.
Along Becher Street, between 67th and 69th Streets, is an interesting collection of locally owned businesses. Colorful hanging baskets spill over with flowers. Storefronts are inviting and well cared for. Old-fashioned hanging business signs line the street. Patios and outdoor tables encourage people to eat, shop, gather, and discover something you probably won’t find at a big-box store—a sense of community and a lot of character. It’s immediately apparent that these businesses take pride in what they’ve created and in their neighborhood.
A Sweet Stop
Underneath The Bake Sale’s distinctive black-and-white striped awning, you’ll find coffee, specialty drinks, and a gorgeous array of baked goods. On Hot Ham Sundays, the shop serves smoked and pulled ham with homemade buttermilk biscuits or hard rolls, accompanied by savory peach mustard jam and hot honey. It’s the kind of Wisconsin Sunday tradition that seems perfectly at home in a neighborhood bakery.
I went home with one of their mini French silk pies. And it was out-of-this-world delicious.
Back On Becher Street
Pie in hand, I stepped back outside and looked around. It didn’t take long to realize just how much was packed into these few blocks. Down the street, Becher Meats has the unmistakable look of an old-fashioned neighborhood meat market, complete with its hanging butcher-shop sign and a storefront overflowing with flowers.
Nearby, West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe offers another distinctly Wisconsin experience. Inside are shelves packed with cheeses, sausages and specialty foods, along with an impressive assortment of Wisconsin-made products—from sauces and pickled vegetables to Bloody Mary mixes and wines.
A little farther along, Scratch Ice Cream pairs an updated, welcoming storefront with the character of the building around it, while restaurants and gathering places such as Wild Roots add still more personality to the neighborhood. Station No. 6, a neighborhood bar and grill, has an inviting outdoor gathering space with a pergola, fire pit, and plenty of seating. Nearby patios offer another glimpse of life along Becher Street: people eating outdoors, servers moving between tables, and customers simply enjoying an afternoon together. None of these things individually makes a business district. Together, they do.
What Community Looks Like
At Small Business Milwaukee, we spend a lot of time talking about supporting local businesses. Walking along Becher Street, I was reminded of just how much small businesses bring to the places they call home. There was an energy to these few blocks that was almost tangible. The flowers, the old brick buildings, the distinctive storefronts, and the people I encountered all contributed to a place that felt vibrant, welcoming, and very much alive.
Take a Detour
The next time you’re traveling through West Allis, consider making a detour onto Becher Street. Don’t just drive through. Park. Walk around. Look at the storefronts. Browse the shelves and talk to the people behind the counters. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream. Pick up something for dinner.
You may go looking for one thing and find plenty of reasons to linger. And if you happen to leave with a mini French silk pie? I certainly won’t try to talk you out of it.
The Bake Sale
Becher Meats
Scratch Ice Cream
Station No. 6
West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe
Wild Roots
