Summerfest Marketplace Officially Opens at MKE

Jan. 15, 2020
New store features Wisconsin apparel, accessories, décor, and Summerfest merchandise.

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, along with Airport Director Brian Dranzik, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. President and CEO Don Smiley, and Paradies Lagardère President and CEO Gregg Paradies unveiled the first-ever Summerfest merchandise store outside the grounds of Henry Maier Festival Park. At 3,466 square feet, Summerfest Marketplace, located inside the main terminal of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, is the largest retail space at MKE. It features Summerfest t-shirts, drinkware, hats, a one-of-a-kind Summerfest-branded guitar, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle display, and unique merchandise from more than 30 other local vendors.

Summerfest Marketplace brings the flavors, feels, and looks of Cream City to MKE with products from House of Harley-Davidson, Brew City Brand, Drink Wisconsinbly, and more than 15 Wisconsin artisans and small business owners. The brands were brought together at MKE in collaboration with Paradies Lagardère, a longtime MKE concessionaire, and their Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE)  partner, Mark II, LLC.

“Summerfest is synonymous with Milwaukee, and we are thrilled that MKE was chosen as home to the first and only Summerfest store outside the festival grounds,” said County Executive Chris Abele. “This partnership reflects Milwaukee County’s commitment to providing travelers at MKE with a distinctly Milwaukee experience, showcasing our beloved city to millions of visitors each year from all over the world.”

“Each year Summerfest brings people from all over the world together to celebrate music and culture, and we couldn’t be more excited to extend the Summerfest experience to MKE, and showcase not only Summerfest, but other great local brands, at our first ever location away from Henry Maier Festival Park,” said Don Smiley, president and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

"Paradies Lagardère is delighted to help bring one of Milwaukee’s most iconic brands to MKE," said Gregg Paradies, president and CEO of Paradies Lagardère. "We are passionate about marrying rich, local brands with the travel experience by partnering with Summerfest and other authentic Wisconsin products.”