Haven't visited Manitowoc in awhile? New boutiques, restaurants and works of art are constantly popping up in our thriving lakeshore community. You’ll want to make time to visit these soon-to-be favorites on your next trip to the Manitowoc.
In late 2023, the Rahr-West Art Museum welcomed Makili, an impressive sculpture from renowned American artist Deborah Butterfield, to the museum’s East Lawn. This permanent acquisition is a full-size horse sculpture in Butterfield’s signature style. Makili appears to be composed of driftwood, though the skeletal frame was cast by Butterfield in bronze with highly sophisticated patinations.
Pick up something new in Manitowoc! Basil’s Sustainable Goods is a friendly store downtown offering affordable household products, handmade Montessori toys, kitchen goods and more. On the Surface, a specialty store, sells quartz countertops and many delicious items to go on top of them. With walls of tasty olive oils, Wisconsin-made fudge and local meats, syrups and jams, there are so many tasty treats to take back home with you. They often have fresh Pine River Dairy cheese curds. Located blocks from the S.S. Badger dock, this is the perfect shop to visit to take great Wisconsin cheese back to Michigan. Pink Petal Boutique offers hand-picked, boho-inspired women’s clothing and accessories. Waves Yoga Studio’s boutique now stocks Lululemon apparel, and graced carries Free People clothing and accessories.
When it comes to tasty bites, the new Manitowoc Pho and Grill offers pho as well as a variety of rice dishes, Vietnamese and Korean sandwiches and salads. On the north side of town, Dos Caminos, Manitowoc’s first authentic Nicaraguan restaurant opened, bringing a new cuisine to the city. Fuel up at 4given Coffee Shoppe, Manitowoc’s newest coffee shop serving up smooth cold brews and creative lattes and teas.
A unique business, CRusched Smash & Art Studio, opened in late 2023. A safe place to release stress, frustration and chaos, CRusched advocates for the reduction of stigma surrounding mental health. Manitowoc’s only smash room, you can book a variety of experiences destroying items or acting like a kid again in the splatter paint room.
This past year, Broken Spoke Bikes and Harmony Cafe & Juicery moved further downtown in Manitowoc, nearer to Mariners Trail and the S.S. Badger dock.
Manitowoc’s newest kayak and boat launches are located in the developing River Point District, adjacent to downtown. Many more development projects are in the works and will be announced in the months and weeks to come!
