A Destination for All Seasons - Green Bay

Ask anyone who has never been to Green Bay what their image of the city is, and the answers seem to follow a common trend: beer, cheese, Packers. They see residents clad in their best green and gold, trudging through the snow on the ground that’s been pushed up to the side of the road by the local snow plow.

Maybe part of that’s true. But for anyone who knows Green Bay, that’s not even the half of it.

Northeast Wisconsin as a whole has spent the last few years pushing through an image overhaul in hopes of showing that there is more to the area than Favre and football on Sundays. With the recent arrivals of national chain retailers, nightlife and entertainment districts, and businesses both large and small setting up shop in the streets of Packer Country, there is no denying that the face of Green Bay is changing. No longer content with a one-dimensional image, the city is moving towards becoming not only a city that people should want to visit – it’s becoming a city that people can’t help but want to live in.

With the help of Greater Green Bay – a branding initiative that hopes to change what people think they know about the area – the city is starting to make noise as a premier destination.

And it’s working…

Their vision is simple: to create economic growth through the attraction and retention of businesses and a vibrant, highly skilled and educated workforce; and to enhance Greater Green Bay perceptions through a managed branding process. Green Bay is a waterfront community with a quality of life that has managed to put them on lists from Kiplinger’s “Top Five Places to Live” to the number two place to start a business according to Entrepeneur Magazine. For the Greater Green Bay branding initiative, these accolades don’t even begin to scratch the surface.

Sure, this is Packer Country. No one denies that, and it’s admittedly what garners Green Bay a lot of the attention it has been receiving lately. Brad Toll, President and C.E.O. of Packer Country Visitors and Convention Bureau, says “We are known for our NFL Franchise – the Packers have put us on the map internationally.”

“The Packers have an interest in modifying the image of Green Bay as well,” says Michael Hildebrand, Co-Chair of the Greater Green Bay initiative. He explains that the city’s image beyond the season is instrumental in attracting players and coaches alike – and their wives play a big role in those decisions.

“If they think there’s a lack of arts, or a lack of shopping, lack of safety or school systems, they’ll look elsewhere,” he explains. “But we have all of that here. It’s just that no one seems to know it.”

What people fail to realize is that the city still stands tall during the off-season. From a nationally-accredited zoo to a host of entertainment venues such as the Resch Center and the Meyer Theater (both of which host national performing acts on a regular basis), Green Bay has a variety of arts and culture that appeal to all ages and demographics. In the past six weeks alone, the city has been home to the Arti Gras – a local artist exhibition featuring over 100 artists from the Midwest, national recording artist Martina McBride, and upscale benefits for local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay. Not to mention what’s on the calendar for the remainder of the year.

“Green Bay is a great community that offers a large variety of museums, recreation, the arts, sports, theater, great dining – all on or near Green Bay,” explains Toll.

Brenda Krainik, Director of Marketing for the Packer Country Visitors and Convention Bureau, agrees stating that there are a number of options for the 18-35 year-old demographic who are likely more focused on the entertainment aspect of the city. In addition to the nightlife spots like Pi Nightclub and Stirups, the city offers a great deal of outdoor recreation such as Fox River Trail and Triangle Recreation Center – and that’s in addition to what the Fox River brings to the table.

But how do we know that Green Bay is a destination for others? The city got an endorsement from one of the trendiest and most forward-thinking hotel chains in the world when AB Hospitality and Supple Hospitality, LLC confirmed that Green Bay would be home to one of the first aLoft hotels – a property that is a vision of the well-known upscale brand of W Hotels. The hotel’s arrival is a part of the redevelopment and renovation efforts along city’s riverfront, and makes perfect sense.

“As the first Starwood property north of Milwaukee, the arrival of aloft reinforces Green Bay as a destination for business travelers and tourists alike,” Jay Supple of Supple Hospitality/ AB Hospitality has been quoted as saying, adding that the aLoft would be a compliment to “the incredible growth along the Ashwaubenon Boardwalk.”

The arrival of aLoft is the most recent of many exciting additions made to Green Bay on the business side of things. Cooks Corner, Steve & Barry’s, and Cambria Suites brought a great deal of attention to the area as well when they decided to call Green Bay home. Even the restaurant Tilted Kilt made a statement about what the area has to offer when their recently-opened Green Bay location joined the other four locations – which are in Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Another main attraction of the area is the local festivals that occur when the snow has melted and the sun begins to shine. Fire Over Fox, Bayfest, and Artstreet are just a few examples of events that attract residents and businesses alike to align and enjoy what Green Bay has to offer. On Broadway, Inc. coordinates a farmer’s market in the Broadway District that not only brings the community together, but also bring attention to retailers such as FLOW Clothing Company, Red Awning, and Besselli – each of which are locally owned businesses that bring a big-city flavor through their products and services.

Restaurants in the area are doing their part too – providing ambiances to patrons that are reminiscent of visits to larger metropolitan areas. Plae Bistro, Koko Sushi, Fratello’s and Urban Frog all offer a dining experience that exceeds what people expect from the Green Bay area.

“No matter what your taste or your pocketbook, you can find great food, entertainment and hospitality,” suggests Krainik of the community’s offerings.

As the area continues to win over residents of Northeast Wisconsin, word is likely to spread to friends and relatives and business associates that there is a reason to make Green Bay a vacation destination. Whether you are looking for a relaxing outdoor getaway or a vacation that will put you in the center of extraordinary arts and entertainment, book yourself or someone you know a ticket and show off the city and all that it has to offer.

And when they find themselves impressed at just how big our small-town is, you get to say, “I told you so.” Want to be a part of the Greater Green Bay branding initiative? Put your two cents in at www.brandgreatergb.com and let them know what you love about Green Bay.