Buildings and Sites
Water Street is Home to 50+ Businesses – and Women Lead Many of Them
9 Jan 2025
News
Eau Claire is a hub for small business owners and entrepreneurs – the fact that it’s fertile ground for both is ingrained in the history of the Chippewa Valley – and the historic downtown area remains such today. Take Water Street for example: There have been dozens of businesses rooted there since at least the mid-1800s, and in 2025, there are upwards of 50 locally-owned shops. Many of them are also led by women.
Taking a glance at Downtown Eau Claire Inc.’s map of Water Street businesses is a sight itself: so many location pins set so closely together they’re nearly on top of each other (and some do share the same building space). The Water Street Business Improvement District has made strides to remind the community that beyond its bars – there are about a dozen of them, plus longtime liquor store Stave & Hoop – the street running parallel to the Chippewa River is also home to so much more.
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