A Dozen Great Things to Do in Downtown Marinette

It's gratifying to see a group of downtown Marinette merchants joining force to promote the city's former commercial heart. While malls, big-box and stand-alone stores are an important part of our economy, nothing beats the charm of an old-fashioned downtown.

We're lucky that both our cities offer that. Menominee's Historic Waterfront Downtown has garnered lots of attention in the past 10 years. The determined group behind the proposed Menominee Opera House restoration, plus the Menominee Downtown Merchants and the city's Menominee Downtown Development Authority have done much to keep downtown on a front burner.

But in recent years, Downtown Marinette has slipped into the background. Now, with the infusion of new businesses, including several retail outlets and a fair share of firms that work with Marinette Marine, Marinette's once-commercial core is coming alive again.

Those of us who grew up here recall the days when Downtown Marinette bustled. On Friday nights, sidewalks were thick with shoppers and a policeman with a night stick directed traffic at the intersection Main Street and Pierce Avenue. The sound of his whistle is indelibly etched in our collective memories.

We Baby Boomers recall that a trip downtown unescorted by parents was a coming-of-age ritual for us. Buying lipstick at McClellan's, coke at Woolworths and a malt at Lauerman Brothers Department Store are part and parcel of our memories.

While Downtown Marinette may not return to the hustle and bustle of 1960, it continues to offer plenty of opportunities for fun and shopping. I sat down recently with Lori Wolf of DewHill Eatery & Coffee Roasters, who heads the new Downtown Community Action Group, and we came up with this list:

Buy an ice cream cone and eat it while you window shop.

Buy fresh produce at the Main Street Farm Market on Tuesday and Friday mornings.

Borrow a good book from Stephenson Public Library.

Get a great cut and style.

Browse through an antique shop.

Buy a handful of magazines or a few paperbacks.

Have a cup of coffee with a strawberry-rhubarb muffin.

Enjoy a sandwich on fresh-baked bread.

Meet a friend for a drink after work.

Buy vintage or gently-used clothing at an affordable price.

Open a checking account.

Buy gifts you won't find anywhere else in town.

And that's just for starters!

PS, Don't forget the 4th of July festivities at Merchant's Park!