12-2-13, 4-1-17, 1-23-18 & 2-3-18

2-22-18

Monroe Street is undergoing large-scale road construction from March 12-November. See video for details. Please continue to shop Monroe St.!  🙂 

 

Monroe Street in Madison is a special place. It is located in the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood. Read about the area history here.

Monroe Street is located near Camp Randall Stadium (Go Badgers!) and is a great walkable street with many great small businesses.  In 2018 the street will be undergoing construction from March to November.  Please keep visiting the businesses as they will still be open and need your continued patronage to survive!  The current view of the top of Monroe Street in January 2018.

 1500 block

Hotel RED

Just ahead on the right across the street are Pizza Extreme , Athen’s Gyros and Gulesserian’s Oriental Rug Sales and Service. They have been open since 1911!

Opposite this side on the 1500 block is the always popular Mickies Dairy Bar and New Orlean’s Takeout.  Also Stadium Barbers. Look at that line at Mickies on a Saturday morning!

In January 2018 we can see a new apartment building going up between New Orleans Takeout and the former Maurie’s Chocolates. This is on the 1600 block.  You can sign up to rent now. It’s called Oakland on Monroe. Open in April!

Next is the Monroe Street Public Library.

Next on this side is The Fit.

Also on this side was Maurie’s Fine Chocolates, open since 1993.  It closed 12-29-17.

Next door was Walter’s Swim N’ Sun. It was on Monroe Street since the 1990’s. It closed the end of September in 2017 in anticipation of the construction taking place in 2018.

A new store moved in November 3 called ReFind Style. Owner Abigail Barth hopes to transform this corner with affordable fashionable clothing and accessories.

1700 Block

On this block is Rupert Cornelius, Eyetopia, Orange Tree Imports, Art Gecko Shop on the corner. They are also on State Street, open since 1997.

A long-established store of over 40 years, Orange Tree Imports specializes in unique kitchen items like cookware and tools, plus many other items for the home. Great gift ideas here.

1800 Block

From left to right. (click to enlarge)

Borokhim’s Oriental Rugs   (1972)

Pizza Brutta 

Wild Child (closing-owners retiring) Since 1981

Katy’s American Indian Arts (1983)

D-Chai Massage, LLC

Barriques

Canvas Club Boxing 

Double SS BBQ  (closed 10-20-2017)  Operates from food cart now. A new restaurant will be opening in this location called Burgrito’s on March 16, 2018.

HAIR

Brocach Irish Pub

Bloom Bake Shop 

Crescendo Espresso Bar Music Café

Mystery to Me  bookstore

 Neuhauser Pharmacy

We have enjoyed many visits to Pizza Brutta, delicious!

Mystery to Me Books

Specializing in books for the mystery fan, there is a lot to read here of the genre.

Across the street from the pharmacy is:

Trader Joes

Another mixed-use building with housing.

  1900 block

Across from Trader Joe’s is a building with two businesses.

Strictly Discs

is where you can get used CD’s.

HIVE

 For the latest in stylish clothing for men and women.

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On the left corner we begin with:

Monroe Street Framing 

On Monroe St. since 1983, they are ready to frame any picture to look it’s best!

Paragon Video and Stereo

This store is the best one if you are still playing records. They have over 100 needles available, as well as 45 years of expertise to help you have the best entertainment center possible!

The tan and brown Empire Place building on the right at 1917  Monroe St. is a mixed-use condo and retail building. Two businesses are here.

Karner Blue Candles and Supply, LLC

A wonderful candle store with candle-making supplies and finished candles for sale.  They also have soap. Also classes to learn how to make your own.  Owner Lyschel Bersch will make your candle experience fun and personal. Stop on by, new scents are in development all the time.  Did I hear you say “Chocolate candle?” This is a candle store with a cause, a portion of their proceeds goes towards saving the habitat of the Karner Blue Butterfly.

Book classes online here anytime. Opened March 8, 2014.

Empire Photography has been here since 1981.

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Directly across from the Empire bldg. is Capital City Comics and the Alvarado Group.

1934 Monroe St.                                                                       On the right used to be the Macha Tea Lounge in 2013,  it has moved to 823 East Johnson street under the new name Macha Tea Company. After that, it was the Green Life Café in 2016, now also closed. I went back in 2018 and there is a fence around it. Now it’s Creando Preschool.

 Next to Creando is the Monroe Building.

Rounding out the rest of the 1900 block

Wine and Hop Shop

Brasserie V

 

Cat Café Mad-A unique place where you can cuddle with kitties while you sip your beverage. We enjoyed a visit there on Feb 3rd and March 31 and June 10.  They are closing in mid-July, not enough business to keep them open.

There is a wall dividing the restaurant from the “cattery” in compliance with Health Dept. rules. No matter, the cats can watch US through several bubble windows in the wall. You can bring your beverage inside the room though.

Also in this building is

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co.

A Dead Anchor Tattoo and Piercing

Cricket Design Works 

One last building on this block.

Full Circle Holistic Veterinary Care

Up in Smoke

1000 Block

We now enter the center portion of the street, mainly residential. Nestled within is Edgewood College and High School.

2400 Block

The last third of the street also had many great businesses to patronize. even live theater in a former firehouse from 1939.

Madison Theater Guild– Since 1946. Madison’s oldest community Theater group.

Budd’s  Auto Repair

2500 Block

On the left side is Zander’s Interiors.

At 2502 on the right is Klinke Cleaners.

Across from here is Infusion Chocolates.

 

Next to Infusion is the Laurel Tavern at 2505.

Next to the tavern is the famous Michael’s Frozen Custard, the original first store is here.

2600 and 2700 Blocks

We now get to a row of brick storefronts the same side as Klinke’s. From left to right.

Monroe Street Fine Arts Center

Colectivo Coffee

 

Also Knickerbocker Place. Opposite side of these stores.

 

 We have another row of stores on the right after crossing Spraque Street.   We begin with W.F. Butler Plumbing, Inc. They have been in business for 60 years!

And the remaining businesses left in this row. Freiburg is moving downtown in 2018 to re-photograph .  A new restaurant will be opening there called the Tin Fox.

Freiburg Gastropub and Calabash Gifts

A newer building rounds out the 2600 block on this side.  Monroe Street Shoe Repair and the Knitting Tree.

2700 Block

We then cross Knickerbocker St. to this long white building, home of Leudtke-Storm-Mackey Chiropractic Clinic.

Across the street is State Farm Insurance (Aaron Perry), J. Michael Real Estate

Also Jac’s Dining and Tap House

We now travel through a last residential area and then explore the remaining businesses at the end of Monroe Street.

Restaino and Associates Realtors

2945 Monroe

Located at 3402 Monroe St. is the Plough Inn. It is the oldest building on the street, built in 1853.  Learn more about it here.  Since 1994, it has been the Arbor House, An Environmental Inn B&B .

As of February 2018, the property is now for sale as the owners wish to retire.

 

Walkner Condon Financial Advisors and Madison Chocolate Company.

One last “new” building housing Gates and Brovi restaurant, as well as housing above.

Next door is the former Mallatt’s Pharmacy closed on March 3, 2017.

It was THE place to go for costumes, I got a sailor hat here for a costume. This was the building in fall 2010.

Good news though, the Lakeview Veterinary Cat Clinic will be moving into the building soon. Next door in the Monroe Place building is the Lakeview Veterinary Clinic for all animals.

We are reaching the end of the street. Fritz and Associates Hair Design.

The last one is Percy’s Service Station.

These are most of the great businesses on Monroe street.  For a more relaxing shopping experience outside of the malls, this is your destination!

Video of the street before construction. Stay tuned for new video after!

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