Around Town

Web Exclusive: New Glarus is a woman's world

Glance around New Glarus and you’ll find a heavy helping of Swiss heritage in every direction. Set in the rolling hills of Green County, “Little Switzerland” is home to the start of the 23-mile Sugar River Bike Trail, chalet-style architecture, Swiss-inspired cuisine, annual ethnic festivals and more.

 

But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that at the heart of this small town is vast network of talented women, each running a business and driving the local economy. According to New Glarus Chamber Administrator Susie Weiss, women make up an estimated 80 percent of total business owners in the town, running everything from the national award-winning brewery to bed and breakfasts, salons, retail shops, real estate and more.

 

Even with a high percentage of women business owners, New Glarus Brewing Company owner Deb Carey insists that the community as a whole is simply a wonderful place to be. “Some people think that when you cross the county line, you’re in no man’s land,” she says. But that’s far from the truth.

 

“The thing that I think makes New Glarus special is that it’s an authentic ethnic settlement—it’s really filled with a lot of wonderful, hardworking Swiss people. There aren’t that many small communities that can boast three sausage-makers, a bakery and a brewery, coupled with the bike trail, great restaurants and wonderful hotels,” Carey adds, brimming with pride.

 

Sausage, beer and Swiss charm to boot? It can’t get much better than that.

 

 

First row, left to right:

1 Roseann Ott | Ott Haus Pub & Grill: (608) 527-2218

2 Mary Dwyer | Town Edge Restaurant + RV Park

3 Kellie Engelke | Personal Expressions: (608) 527-3348

4 Susie Weiss | New Glarus Chamber

5 Betty Everson | Shear Class Beauty Salon: (608) 527-2728

6 Karen A. Olson | Cobblers II: (608) 527-4343

7 Carol Allen | The Bramble Patch/Edelweiss

8 Daniela Mendlik | European Biz LLC  

9 Connie Shomberg | Swiss Center of North America

10 Shelly Lynch | Lynch Gifts: (608) 527-5106

11 Tracy Narf | Bargain Nook: (608) 527-3805

12 Mary Coppens | Mary’s Novelty Boutique & Coffee Haus: (608) 527-4250

13 Faun Phillipson | Phillipson & Uretsky, LLP

 

Second row, left to right:

1 Brandi Nehmer | Brandi’s Bridal Galleria Etc.

2 Terry Meyer | Video Haus: (608) 527-5293

3 Tracy Gobeli | Swiss Aire Motel

4 Barbara Kummenfeldt | Maple Leaf Cheese + Chocolate House and Hoch Haus B&B

5 Deb Carey | New Glarus Brewing Co.

6 Sherry Wilde | Wilde Real Estate Service

7 Theresa Martinson | Touch of Relief Massage & Spa  

8 Beth Zurburchen | Swiss Center of North America

9 Brenda Siegenthaler | Brenda’s Blumenladen

10 Nancy Marty | Piece of Cake: (608) 527-5264

11 Julie Winkelman | Sweet Street Bakery

12 Kendra Wirth | Shear Concepts by KW: (608) 527-4247

 

Third row, left to right:

1 Angela Anderson | New Glarus Bakery

2 Christa Gish | Hair Dimensions

3 Kate Douma | Kate Douma LLC

4 Danette Serrano | Creations Unlimited: (608) 636-2400

5 Dawn Bahr | Cameo Rose Victorian Country Inn

6 Esther Zgraggen | Roberts European Imports

7 Wendy Schmidt | Sugar River Gallery