Many of Wauwatosa’s local restaurants and businesses completely embody the “do good, feel good” mentality. With so many charitable initiatives, we had to give these businesses a shoutout for their incredible work in our local, regional, national, and international communities.  Whether you’re buying a taco or a cold brew, see just how far your purchases go when you support our Wauwatosa restaurants and businesses. wooden table filled with burgers, fries, salads, and beer

Good City Brewing

Serving up good eats, good beers, and good times, Good City Brewing is located in the Mayfair Collection. They give back to the community through the 1% For Our Home initiative — the company’s commitment to donate 1% of annual revenue in support of affordable housing for the community and their staff members.

Stone Creek Coffee

Whether you prefer your cup o’ joe iced, steaming hot, or straight up, Tosa Village’s Stone Creek Coffee is the perfect way to start any day.  They also have countless charitable initiatives, so you know your coffee goes a long way, including: 
  • OneHope27: Stone Creek Coffee provides placement bags (as well as monthly coffee donations) to children in foster care to provide them with hope and support through basic material items. 
  • Riverwest Food Pantry and Hunger Task Force: Stone Creek partners with these key community organizations to ensure those struggling in our community have access to high-quality food. Together, they have donated three brewers, two under-construction refrigerators, and monthly coffee to both organizations.
  • Riverwest Food Pantry: Stone Creek Coffee has donated coffee, brewers, refrigerators, and more by selling Brewing Change t-shirts. 
Visit their website for a complete list of their community initiatives.

BelAir Cantina

When you dine at BelAir Cantina in East Tosa, know your tacos (and entire meal!) are making a difference. BelAir’s Powered by Tacos (PBT) program supports multiple areas in the community through various initiatives, including delivering food to first responders and celebrating teachers. Over the years, they have worked side-by-side with their PBT partners. They have named the following participants with the PBT Award: Camp Minikani ($13,000), Journey House ($15,000), Ronald McDonald House Charities ($26,000), Tosa Skatepark ($25,000), Urban Ecology Center ($29,000), and Playworks ($45,000).

Blue’s Egg

A 68th & Wells gem, Blue’s Egg is an absolute must-visit for places to grab brunch in Wauwatosa.  In true Blue’s Egg fashion, their giveback program is called EGG: Everyone’s Good Graces. In August, they are donating $1 of each Egg Plate to Stars And Stripes Honor Flight Wisconsin, which strives to honor Wisconsin’s veterans of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as terminally ill veterans.

Outpost Natural Foods

Since 1970, Outpost Natural Foods has been on a mission to provide the community with wholesome and whole foods. To take it a step further, they have also incorporated the Outpost Gives Back program that fosters environmental and agricultural sustainability, hunger relief, cooperative development, and volunteerism through partnerships, programming, and events.  One of many examples of their charitable initiatives includes Marblessed’s “In Her Boots” program. This supports women farmers and landowners by providing resources and collaborative opportunities to champion new business start-ups that support food system change to organic production and land conservation. Outpost Natural Foods supported this initiative through events, networking, storytelling, and podcasts for the ongoing program.

Tabal Chocolate

A chocolatey delight in Tosa Village, Tabal Chocolate is one of Wauwatosa’s local chocolate shops that brings worldly flavors to our charming city. Their charitable initiatives then put their generosity right back into the world. Tabal Chocolate supports Enliven Cacao with the Lily Project to address the needs of Nicaraguan communities through an economic development plan. The Lily Project established mobile medical clinics to serve the women in rural communities and save lives. Tabal Chocolate supports this project through the purchase of Nicaraguan cacao from these communities.  They also support the Columbian Chocolate Project and work with farmers and community members in Columbia to establish their own manufacturing business.

Metcalfe’s Market

Situated down the street from Outpost Natural Foods, Metcalfe’s Market is filled with whole, local groceries and produce. Rooted in the belief that corporations, as well as individuals, are responsible for the welfare of the communities in which they live, work, and play, Metcalfe’s feels responsible to give back to the community through a wide variety of charitable causes. Every time you shop at Metcalfe’s, a portion of your bill goes back to the community! Each month, Metcalfe’s commits to their Neighborhood Appreciation & Charity of the Month initiatives, where they support a total of six local charities and six neighborhood associations per year. In addition to featuring these charities and associations in-store, Metcalfe’s provides a 5% discount throughout the designated month on all partner shopping and matches the total of the 5% discount at the end of the month to the organization. Discover Wauwatosa wants to ensure you have a safe and healthy travel experience. Learn more about where to stay, where to eat, and things to do while you’re here in Wauwatosa.  Due to the coronavirus pandemic, please check the local hotel and travel restrictions and retail and restaurant hours/menus before you go.  Header image courtesy of @goodcitybrewing.