Milwaukee Observations (Greenfield, Mequon, Washington: middle-class, house, to buy)

[RonnieJonez]

Some things I don't understand...

The people here don't smile much, and just don't seem very happy overall, why is that? Maybe the weather? Why are people so close-minded and don't want to talk to you if you aren't from here? Occasionally some drunk guy whether it be downtown or North Ave will want to start a fight for no apparent reason as well.

I've literally noticed people can be shocked when they encounter someone who is outgoing.

Why is there no Super Wal-Mart, or Super Target? It's annoying having to goto a separate store like Pick N Save to go grocery shopping. This might be the only place in the country that doesn't have it, and as much as people may hate those companies, it just seems weird NOT to have one.

Why all the drag racing, it's out of control on Hwy 100.

Also, why is there such a high level of vagrancy in the area? Even decent middle-class suburbs like Greenfield are affected by this.

[Lookout Kid]

1. People in Milwaukee smile and are more friendly than people from most large cities in the U.S. Ever been to New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, etc.?

2. "Super" Big Box stores are not urban, and don't belong in the city.

[RonnieJonez]

Yes, I've been to most of those cities and lived in Chicago at one point.

I really don't care if Super Big Box stores are urban or not. If I have to run errands I would rather have it done at one place than have to bounce around store to store. Yet they don't even exist in the suburbs.

I would agree the people are friendly - if they've known you since high school.

Also, in a city that loves beer, why is 9pm the latest time to buy beer? Is this former USSR?

[Ron Burgundy]

I don't get the whole Pick-'n-Save monopoly. It sucks that the generic (Roundy's brand) gets touted at mainstream prices because they own the market. I'm not impressed with their customer service either.

The thing is, i don't get Sendik's either. I guess they're nice, but nice only compensates so far for the price difference. Everything was either namebrand or organic, so the tab gets a bit pricey. And the Mequon store I shopped at reeked like a nursing home, but then again, that might be indicative of the area.

This area is screaming for someone to take the middle ground between quality of the materials, competitiveness of the prices, and niceness of the facilities. Emphasis on the competitiveness of the price, especially.

[zz4guy]

I doubt there's room for a Super Walmart in the city. They'd have to tear down 10 square blocks just to build one. There are plenty of them in the suburbs though.

I don't think people in MKE are unfriendly at all. Like someone said, go to NY, NJ or Chicago. Milwaukee is not a small town (600k+ in the city alone) so it is not like small town IA. But they aren't dumb and nieve like small town IA either. Over all people are decently polite and friendly, at least the ones I run into.

Why is there so much drag racing? Because they know how to have fun!!

[Nuclear_Art]

Having a big Super store in the city doesn't make too much sense. To buy a family's worth of groceries and clothes, furniture, or whatever requires a helluva big SUV to carry. Except in the burbs, a big SUV isn't too popular for city use. There are plenty of places like Bay Shore Mall where everything is there. Not in one store but you don't have to hop in the car to go from store to store.

I don't know what area of the city or what you are doing to not meet friendly people. Are you selling door-to-door magazine subscriptions at midnight? I can imagine people would not be friendly to you in that situation. Of course with an economy going down the toilet and gas prices going to the moon, lots of people are stressed all over the country, here included.

Getting beer past 9pm isn't a problem - go to a bar. But otherwise, planning ahead for all your drinking needs isn't too hard.

Vagrancy in Milwaukee isn't what I'd consider high. The crappy economy forces a lot of people on the streets. Wait for another year or so when we are at rock bottom and the streets will be more filled with homeless people. I work at a downtown homeless shelter serving food to women and children and its sad to see families with no place to go but I can guarantee that even these people are capable of a smile

[karfar]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Some things I don't understand...

The people here don't smile much, and just don't seem very happy overall, why is that? Maybe the weather? Why are people so close-minded and don't want to talk to you if you aren't from here? Occasionally some drunk guy whether it be downtown or North Ave will want to start a fight for no apparent reason as well.

I've literally noticed people can be shocked when they encounter someone who is outgoing.

Why is there no Super Wal-Mart, or Super Target? It's annoying having to goto a separate store like Pick N Save to go grocery shopping. This might be the only place in the country that doesn't have it, and as much as people may hate those companies, it just seems weird NOT to have one.

Why all the drag racing, it's out of control on Hwy 100.

Also, why is there such a high level of vagrancy in the area? Even decent middle-class suburbs like Greenfield are affected by this.

Why the heck does everyone talk about milwaukeeans like we're some close-minded, nonfriendly inner cult? Where are you hanging out exactly? Because where I live & where I've lived in the past, I have NEVER come across any of what you're speaking about. Are you in a small-town? Small-town logic is the same anywhere you go, you may have forgotten that little tidbit. As far as super stores go? Go live in the suburbs if that's what you want. Or better yet, why don't you try going to some of the smaller local stores around here, you know support local merchants? I assure you, you might actually enjoy it! Another tip, try not to classify everyone into one big negative pile, you might see better results.

[RonnieJonez]

Because it is unfriendly. There's probably a reason why everyone says that. Support local merchants, that is excessively pushed here, this might as well be Little house on the prairie.

There aren't "Super Stores" in the suburbs. Regular WalMart/Target yes, but not the Super ones. Not being able to buy alcohol after 9pm is strange as well. It must have to do with all the winos in the area.

[karfar]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Because it is unfriendly. There's probably a reason why everyone says that. Support local merchants, that is excessively pushed here, this might as well be Little house on the prairie.

There aren't "Super Stores" in the suburbs. Regular WalMart/Target yes, but not the Super ones. Not being able to buy alcohol after 9pm is strange as well. It must have to do with all the winos in the area.

No, we're not unfriendly here. As a matter of fact, outside of a few on this forum, Milwaukee is known for having friendly people. As I said, you must live in a small town. You have a problem w/local merchants? Why on earth would you have a problem w/that?? Please tell me, what can you get at a "super store" that you can't get at the regular ones? If you go outside of the Milwaukee area, you CAN buy beer after 9. We used to be able to buy til midnight but Mayor Norquist changed that one. Yes, it must be because of the winos Oh yeah, you can't buy beer after 9 in Chicago either, there goes that logic.

[RonnieJonez]

Originally Posted by karfar

Why the heck does everyone talk about milwaukeeans like we're some close-minded, nonfriendly inner cult? Where are you hanging out exactly? Because where I live & where I've lived in the past, I have NEVER come across any of what you're speaking about. Are you in a small-town? Small-town logic is the same anywhere you go, you may have forgotten that little tidbit. As far as super stores go? Go live in the suburbs if that's what you want. Or better yet, why don't you try going to some of the smaller local stores around here, you know support local merchants? I assure you, you might actually enjoy it! Another tip, try not to classify everyone into one big negative pile, you might see better results.

Originally Posted by karfar

No, we're not unfriendly here. As a matter of fact, outside of a few on this forum, Milwaukee is known for having friendly people. As I said, you must live in a small town. You have a problem w/local merchants? Why on earth would you have a problem w/that?? Please tell me, what can you get at a "super store" that you can't get at the regular ones? If you go outside of the Milwaukee area, you CAN buy beer after 9. We used to be able to buy til midnight but Mayor Norquist changed that one. Yes, it must be because of the winos Oh yeah, you can't buy beer after 9 in Chicago either, there goes that logic.

Everyone says it, now only a few say it. lol, You aren't the brightest crayon in the box.

Outside this forum, Milwaukee is known as having fat people and a cheese obsession. Don't forget a Brett Favre obsession. He could run for Mayor and win.