05/01/2026
Have to get this off of my chest, We are a local business, that relies on local people to support us, without that, we have nothing. We understand supporting local. We support local whenever humanly possible. Here is the thing that you may not know, but now you will. This is the truth and I don't know any other way to tell people, but always being honest and telling the truth. Some may not like it, but at this point, I do not care and need to vent here.. Fall 2025 was a bad season for us, actually, it was the worst Fall ever, that I have been in Stockbridge, the accountants tell me the numbers and I give the reasons as to why things are what they are. Having that road closed for 5 months was a main contributor for it, Within the Stockbridge Square building, foot traffic was about zero, We could see it, feel it and knew, it wasn't going to be good. Whether you want to believe it or not, one hand feeds the other in The Stockbridge Square of the 3 businesses that are in it. Amy's Brave Girl customers come in by me, especially the men, while the women shop with Amy, the men come in and chat with us, maybe buying a lure a soda, a sturgeon decal or sometimes nothing, when their done shopping they may go to Mud Creek and get some goodies. Rippn-Lips is a draw to Mud Creek with fishermen and campers coming in for fishing supplies and bait and then going next door to to grab a cup of coffee or sandwich. One hand does feed the other here, whether anyone wants to believe it or not, it's fact. The Fall months came and went, and then came the Christmas Season, which was "ok" at least the road was back open and travel was normal again, then the season we all look forward to, which is Ice Fishing Season and Sturgeon Spearing. We finally had a "normal" Lake Winnebago ice season. That is, Up until, I call it "The bad Turn", that happened the week before Battle on Bago when Mother Nature gave us the warm up and lots of rain and started destroying the lake. I knew it was not going to be good. The next week Battle On Bago which is Huge for us, was canceled. We took it in the shorts big time again, losing double digit revenue, as we stocked up on inventory heavily, specifically for it. Those bills dont go away and there the inventory sits. Fast forward to our latest 2026 Spring, very cold, with Blizzards, more rain than we know what to do with, heavy winds all the time and major flooding especially upriver, thereby closing most of the boat landings, so guys cannot get out to fish the peak walleye run. It has been, my worst Spring, since being in Stockbridge almost 12 years, again, the accountants tell me so, so I give them the reasons why.. Now in a week and a half, they are going to shut down the road again for months of construction projects and we will again lose more revenue..
Here is the next thing for people to understand. We are local business. We support local. The 3 businesses in the Stockbridge Square needs your support now more than ever, with this road being closed AGAIN for months. Another thing to consider and this is pointed towards the fishing clubs and people having raffles, instead of going to big box cabelas, farm and barn and scheels, why not shop with us? We can get compound bows, crossbows, fishing tackle, rods/reels, guns, and everything in between, for your money making raffles, we can also make Hoodies, shirts, face buffs and shorts, and we can easily do gift cards and custom lures and Sturgeon decoys with logos on them. Shop Local, really Shop Local, as it makes the local economy go round which is exactly where you live..... If I opened your eyes, that's great, if I made you think for a bit, that's great also. There are other businesses in the Stockbridge community that also need everyone's support during this next road closure such as Brave Girl Boutique Kazzmo’s Kitchen & Spirits Gobbler's K**b Supper Club, Harbor Bar and Grill, Wild Chickory, Schumacher Shanty, Mud Creek...
