What's in Store

Door County's local shop owners gave us their top picks for where to go, what to see, and what to buy during the holiday season. 

Art Meets Heart at Sister Golden, owned by Brooke & Vicki Rawlins

Brooke Rawlins runs Sister Golden, an online and brick-and-mortar retail store, with her artist mother, Vicki. The shop carries one-of-a-kind handmade goods from artists and artisans around the world — including a special section just for Vicki’s floral- and nature-based artwork. 

Brooke’s Q and A Recommendations:

What’s the best place for a Door County souvenir?
Zeke’s Village Market has cute Door County sweatshirts that aren’t your typical sweatshirts — they’re a little more fun and modern.

What about a kid-friendly gift?
Little Rad House in Sister Bay. There’s also a place called Effe Street Kids in Egg Harbor. Those are super-cute shops.

Where do you go to get into the holiday spirit?
When it’s snowing in the winter, Björklunden is a place I like to get outside and feel like I’m in a snow globe. We take our dog there and hike. I also love how downtown Fish Creek is decorated for the holidays — it always feels festive.

What’s your favorite winter activity?
My husband owns Sway Brewing + Blending in Baileys Harbor, and I go there every morning to cozy up with a cup of coffee.

Gems, Geodes & Good Vibes at Door County Rock & Gem, owned by Scott and Julie Barnes

Door County Rock & Gem is run by husband-and-wife team Scott and Julie Barnes. It’s a one-stop shop for gems, minerals, and rocks — as well as decorative home pieces and jewelry. As a bonus, the Ephraim location also offers the chance to mine for your own gems come summertime.

Julie’s Q and A Recommendations:

What’s your favorite winter activity?
If the roads are in good shape, it’s really nice to drive through Door County and watch how Lake Michigan freezes. On a sunny, windy day, we go down to Cave Point. When the weather’s dramatic, we go to Gills Rock and watch the water splash up on the ice.

We spend time indoors reading, too—there are a lot of nice places where you can curl up by the fireplace with a book, such as the Sister Bay Library.

Where do you like to go for a warming meal?
Alexander’s for special occasions, Sister Bay Bowl for a good supper club dinner, and Husby’s for burgers and beer.

Where do you go for the quintessential Door County gift?
Spot Home for funny, gifty items, and Lake People for Door County–branded sweatshirts.

What is your favorite place for a cup of coffee?
I like to order an Americano and avocado toast from Sip.

From Fashion to Furnishings at Space, Spot Home, and Sip Restaurant in Ephraim

Jennie Bexell doesn’t own just one business — she owns five. In Egg Harbor, you can shop at Spot for women’s clothing. In Ephraim, she runs Sip restaurant and Spot Home for furnishings. And in Sister Bay, she has another location of Spot for women’s clothing and Space, a “not-so-serious” home and gift shop.

Jennie’s Q and A Recommendations:

What is your favorite outdoor winter activity?
Hiking and walking on the beach in Newport State Park. It’s so peaceful and quiet — it’s magical. It makes you feel like you’re on the ocean.

What’s your favorite comfort food?
Sister Bay Bowl’s pizza. I order pineapple. Triple pineapple. There’s no such thing as too much pineapple on a pizza.

Where do you go to get into the holiday spirit?
Christkindlmarkt in Sister Bay is adorable. They do such a good job — stepping it up every year, and it’s so cute.

Do you have a favorite local musician?
My brother’s in a band called The Deep End. They do everything from originals to covers and play at Waterfront Mary’s, Stabbur Beer Garden at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant, and Stone Harbor Resort. They’re very hyped and high-energy.

Classic Looks, Local Legacy at On Deck Clothing Company, owned by Mitch Larson

On Deck Clothing Company is a clothing, shoe, and accessories shop with three locations in Door County, so you’ll never be without cool-gear essentials such as cable-knit sweaters, winter jackets, stylish boots, and more. Owner Mitch Larson’s family legacy in Door County stretches back to the late 1800s.

Mitch’s Q and A Recommendations:

Do you have a favorite winter festival?
Fish Creek’s Winterfest. There are all kinds of winter activities, and the town fills up with people. It’s a lot of fun.

What do you like to do outside in Door County in the winter?
Cross-country ski and snowshoe. If we don’t have snow, Peninsula State Park has wonderful hiking trails.

What’s your favorite warming drink, and where do you go to get it?
I’m actually not a warm-drink person. I like frozen drinks in the winter, and the grasshopper cocktail is my favorite. Alexander’s and Sister Bay Bowl make fabulous grasshoppers—the peppermint flavor keeps you in the holiday spirit all winter long.

Where do you go to get into the holiday spirit?
It’s nice to take a drive through the different villages in Door County. All of the communities do such a wonderful job of decorating. It’s fun to take a ride and see all the lights.

Your Home’s Happy Place at Bliss, owned by Todd Trimberger and Kelton Reitz

Since 2001, Bliss has been the place for holiday décor, rugs, furniture, wall art, barware, and pretty much anything else you can imagine to make your home an expression of your individual style. Todd Trimberger owns the building with his husband, Kelton Reitz, and shares the space with several other businesses. He calls the store “a delight for the senses” because of its variety of items.

Todd’s Q and A Recommendations:

Where do you go for artistic inspiration?
It’s a pretty tough draw between Two Bridges Gallery, which features Julia Redwine and Dale Vanden Houten, and Popelka Trenchard Glass.

What is your favorite outdoor winter activity?
A nice stroll around Sturgeon Bay, getting some fresh air and crossing the bridges.

What’s your favorite wintertime restaurant?
Cedar Crossing. The food tastes homemade and fresh, and the bar atmosphere is especially nice in the winter with the fireplace going. The lemon-chicken piccata is one of my favorite dishes.

Where do you go to get into the holiday spirit?
I enjoy our own store because we transform into a holiday store! For months behind the scenes, we plan the upcoming Christmas season. This building is a 1935 vintage department store, so it becomes a Christmas wonderland quite easily.