Bussiness
2024 Year in Review: Business – Door County Pulse
We reported in our annual 2024 New Business issue (June) that business activity over the previous year (from June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024) was slightly higher than the five-year average. There were 31 new businesses on the peninsula – 20 of those north of Carlsville, 16 of those restaurants – during that time span. In addition, there were 57 business changes during that time – existing businesses that changed locations, owners or concepts (dramatically).
While we reserve a lot of our new/changing business coverage for that annual issue, we do also report on businesses throughout the year. Below is an example of those stories from 2024.
New Businesses Open Their Doors
Fresh Coast Motel, a contactless, boutique motel in the heart of downtown Fish Creek; FIRE (Functional. Intensive. Resistance. Exercise) Fitness Camp in Sturgeon Bay, which provides intensity and strength-training without the time commitment; the Naked Sheep Yarn Shop and Gift Boutique, a knitting supplies store in Sturgeon Bay featuring a variety of yarns and items that appeal to crafters; Well Nest Spa, a studio with space for yoga, retail skincare and wellness products and massage, facial and body treatments in Egg Harbor; and Lion’s Mouth Bookstore, a Green Bay-based shop that opened their second location in Egg Harbor this year.
Same Business, New Hands
Several businesses changed hands this year, among those Tom Lutsey, the longtime owner of Waseda Farms in West Jacksonport, sold his organic farming and retail operation to De Pere resident Jeff Shefchik after three years of conversations.
Additionally, the Florian II building, an iconic, family-owned lakefront supper club, came under new ownership within the same family. Shane and Maddy Kwaterski purchased the building from the prior owners, Shane’s parents, and turned it into the Augusta Club, an event space.
Continuum Healthcare became the new owner of Scandia Village senior living center in Sister Bay in January. The new owners changed the name to Serenity Spring Senior Living at Scandia Village.
More Navy Contracts for Fincantieri
In May, the Department of Defense awarded a contract valued at a billion dollars to Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) to build two additional Constellation-class Frigates: FFG 66 and FFG 67. Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) in Sturgeon Bay constructs sections of the ships and barges them to Marinette for assembly.
In November, Norwegian Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram released a statement confirming that Norway is also considering the Constellation-Class Frigate, as well as three other designs from outside the country.
New Shuttle Service Around Door County, EggXpress Hatched
Michael Hanrahan created EggXpress Hatched to provide transportation for hotels, resorts and local businesses in Door County. He uses a 2023 Ford Transit van with a seating capacity of 15 to offer a continuous loop route with a set number of stops on a 60-minute or 90-minute repetitive schedule in both northern Door County and the City of Sturgeon Bay.
October Named Manufacturing Month in Sturgeon Bay
During the Oct. 15 Common Council meeting, Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward proclaimed October as Manufacturing Month in the city, where the manufacturing sector contributes the highest total value of goods produced among all industries.
Boys and Girls Club Golf Outing Sets a Record
For the first time, the Boys and Girls Club of Door County raised over $200,000 at their annual Celebrity Golf Outing. The money will support programming and behavioral-health efforts for children at the Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek sites.
Construction at Stone Hedge Golf and Pub
Stone Hedge Golf and Pub owner Kevin Wehrenberg began construction in early November on an indoor golf facility, billiard hall and game room in an addition adjacent to the clubhouse on the east side of Egg Harbor. When the entertainment addition opens, which is planned for fall of 2025, Wehrenberg will add two Trackman indoor golf simulators with ball flight-tracing capabilities and the option for golfers to play dozens of famous courses.
Plan Mapped Out for Miller Art Museum to Vacate Library
Sturgeon Bay’s Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee recommended in September that the Common Council approve an agreement to have the Miller Art Museum vacate the space it currently occupies in Sturgeon Bay’s Door County Library.
The plan would lead to the museum occupying new space elsewhere and vacating the library by Sept. 1, 2029.
Major Addition Approved for Therma-Tron-X
Sturgeon Bay’s Industrial Park Development Review Team approved plans for an 88,200-square-foot addition for Therma-Tron-X in January.
The addition, which will be identical to the existing building in materials and colors, will be used for storage and be constructed on the existing 20,000-square-foot building at 1301 S. Neenah Ave.