Historic King Drive BID

Head down Historic King Drive, and you’ll pass restaurants, flower shops, apothecaries, offices, bookstores. Stop inside any of the neighborhood’s unique small businesses, and you’ll have the chance to shop for local goods, meet friendly people and support one of Milwaukee’s vibrant, growing neighborhoods.

“The business owners on King Drive aren’t just entrepreneurs, they’re like family,” says Raynetta Hill, executive director of the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District. “They’re the familiar faces who remember your name, your order and your story.”

King Drive is the only designated Main Street in the city of Milwaukee. The corridor is home to dozens of businesses – and the Historic King Drive BID is a centerpiece of it, connecting the commercial and public partners that have driven the neighborhood’s revitalization. The BID connects business owners, community and civic groups, and more to share resources, collaborate and help local enterprises thrive.

Consider just a few of the businesses in the neighborhood. There’s Sam’s Place, a cafe featuring food and drinks with a side of jazz music; 414loral, providing beautiful bouquets; Honey Bee Sage Wellness and Apothecary, serving restorative tea and spirit-free cocktails; Bronzeville Collective, a retail space with goods from over 30 local creatives; CopyWrite Magazine and its retail, studio, event and networking space; GJS Skin and Soul Care and Sigue Sanando Studio, a face and body care company; LionArt Media, a media production company; Dream Lounge Social lounge and bar; and Niche Book Bar, a bookstore where you can enjoy a glass of wine while you read.

And in the midst of all that business, the surrounding neighborhood is continuing to grow, with over 1,000 new residents moving in over just the past year. “This corridor is more than a commercial strip with local businesses,” says Hill. “It’s a living, breathing community built on care, strong values and connection.”