Cedarburg Shopping: A Guide to Washington Avenue & the Settlement

This Cedarburg shopping guide covers one of the town's biggest draws: Washington Avenue, named one of the "Most Beautiful Main Streets in America" by Architectural Digest, where five walkable blocks of historic stone and cream-brick buildings are packed with independent boutiques, galleries, gift shops, and specialty stores. There's not a big-box store in sight. Below is how to actually shop Cedarburg — the walkable route, what's in the Cedar Creek Settlement versus along the avenue, and the shops worth seeking out by category.

How to shop Cedarburg

The whole point of downtown Cedarburg shopping is that you do it on foot. Park once — free street parking and public lots are dotted all around downtown — and walk. A natural route starts at the north end where Washington Avenue meets Bridge Road, at the Cedar Creek Settlement, then works south down the avenue. You can cover the main shops in a couple of hours or spend a full leisurely day, ducking into a coffee shop or winery when you need a break. Nearly everything is independent and locally owned, so no two shops are alike.

The Cedar Creek Settlement shops

Start at the Cedar Creek Settlement, the restored 1864 woolen mill that now holds around twenty to thirty independent shops, restaurants, and Cedar Creek Winery under one roof. It's the anchor of Cedarburg shopping — clothing boutiques, home decor, pottery (climb the stairs to Cedar Creek Pottery, the town's oldest pottery shop, established 1978), artisan gifts, and collectibles, all inside the historic mill with its original beams and floors. On a cold or rainy day, it's the place to be, since it's all indoors.

Cedarburg boutiques and clothing

The avenue is where Cedarburg's boutiques shine. Wild Lavender Boutique is the go-to for on-trend women's clothing, while Wild & Precious Collective blends a curated apparel-and-gift boutique with a coffee bar — shopping and a latte in one stop. Access Boutique offers women's apparel and jewelry, Corner Closet is a well-stocked consignment and resale shop, and Lillies rounds out the eclectic end with eco-friendly, fair-trade accessories, gifts, and clothing. Between them you can outfit a whole trip's worth of browsing without leaving the avenue.

Home, gifts, and specialty shops

For home decor and gifts, Cedarburg gift shops run deep. Bohemia Home Design curates home decor, local art, and handmade gifts from area makers. Robin's European Cottage brings a European sensibility to home furnishings, and The Irish Boutique of Cedarburg is a genuine specialty stop — Irish-made jewelry, Claddagh rings, wool sweaters, Belleek pottery, and imported foods. For the kitchen-and-pantry crowd, Penzeys Spices is a nationally known name with a Cedarburg storefront, The Olive Sprig pours infused olive oils and aged balsamics (and runs popular cooking classes), and you'll find loose-leaf teas and artisan spices scattered along the avenue. Armbruster Jewelers has been Ozaukee County's jeweler since 1884 for anyone shopping for something lasting.

Gourmet, sweets, and the fun stops

A few Cedarburg stores are worth the trip on their own. Downtown Dough is a baker's paradise with a collection of more than 2,000 cookie cutters alongside baking supplies, molds, and stamps. Amy's Candy Kitchen and Beerntsen's Candy handle the sweet tooth with handmade confections and caramel apples, and Frannie's Market covers gourmet grocery and charcuterie. For families, the Cedarburg Toy Company is a boutique toy store in the middle of downtown, focused on creative, imagination-driven toys — a fairytale stop for young kids.

Art galleries

Cedarburg's arts scene shows up in its shops. The Pink Llama Gallery represents more than 100 artists from across the country, with a strong showing of Wisconsin work — eclectic, fun, and browsable for hours. Artists' co-ops and studios dot the avenue and the Settlement, so gallery-hopping folds naturally into a shopping day.

Antiques and vintage

Cedarburg has a real antiquing streak, too. Shops like Creekside Vintage and ReFabulous cover vintage furnishings, resale, and upcycled finds, and several Settlement dealers carry antiques and collectibles. If old and one-of-a-kind is what you're after, see our dedicated guide to antique shopping in Cedarburg for the full rundown.

When to go: festivals and the holidays

Cedarburg shops are open year-round, but two windows stand out. Festival weekends — the Strawberry Festival in June and the Wine & Harvest Festival in September — bring the biggest crowds and a street-fair energy, with the shops open alongside 300-plus visiting artisans (see our festivals guide). And the holiday season is when Cedarburg leans hardest into its Christmas-town reputation, with decorated storefronts and holiday shopping events drawing families downtown. For a calmer browse, a weekday or a Sunday morning gives you the shops without the festival crush.

Make a day of it

Shopping pairs naturally with the rest of a Cedarburg visit — a coffee to start, lunch mid-browse, a winery tasting to finish. Our where to eat in Cedarburg guide covers the food, and the things to do in Cedarburg guide maps out a full day around the shops.