Holiday shopping in Green Bay? Here are some local restaurants to stop at when you're done

Holiday season is here and stores are already putting out themed gifts and having sales, which means shoppers are starting to pour in. If you like to get some early gift shopping in, then chances are you'll be amongst the crowds.

And, after a long day of spending money on not-yourself, the best way to treat yourself is, of course, a meal.

Luckily, there are a lot of locally owned restaurants and eateries throughout Green Bay's most prime shopping areas, like the Bay Park Square and the Broadway District.

Here are some places you can get eat before or after your day of shopping.

Support local businesses and restaurants in the Broadway District

The Broadway District is made up of over 100 different shops, boutiques, restaurants and storefronts, with most of them being small, locally owned businesses. Hit the district to find more personalized gifts and follow up your shopping with any of these restaurants.

Before you start your day of shopping, Copper Rock Coffee Company, inside the Copper State Brewery building at 313 Dousman St., has all your caffeinated needs. The café prides itself on its locally sourced products like the their breads and bakery items and their tea, which is sourced from Milwaukee. The globally sourced beans are roasted by the café and the gelato is created in-house. Customers can stop in for hot and iced coffee drinks, teas, smoothies, frappes, and quick meals.

If you're looking for a light and fresh meal, Little Tokyo, 121 N. Broadway, is a perfect spot. Known as Green Bay's first Japanese and sushi bar, the restaurant offers fine dining seafood dishes and traditional Japanese cuisine like Teriyaki, udon and soba noodles, and fried rice.

But if you prefer something a little more hearty, Bay Area Burger Co., 126 S. Broadway, specializes in smash burgers. Customers can choose between five smash burger flavors as well as grilled cheese, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches and traditional sides like fries and cheese curds. And don't forget to try the "Boozy Malts" and signature cocktails. The restaurant just opened at the start of 2023, and owner Cole Ductan is anticipating the business the holidays bring after just missing last year's season.

More: A popular smash burger food truck opens in new home on Broadway ∣ Streetwise

"We're already seeing an incline in traffic from just the fall season, so we're certainly expecting more business for the holidays," Ductan said.

If you're shopping with a group and you can't all decide on a place to eat, The Cannery, 320 N. Broadway, might be the solution. The Cannery, a test kitchen and food incubator, currently features menus from three different restaurants, but sometimes has more. Customers can choose from Fivethumbsup, a dessert and pastry restaurant; Colombian Flavors, which provides authentic Colombian meals; and Titletown Brewing, which offers fresh brewed beer and traditional American meals.

If you want something other than the fast food options near Bay Park Square

Bay Park Square is the hotspot for many major brands in the Green Bay, and surrounded by lots of places to eat. Besides the mall food court here are some locally owned options.

If you just happen to have some difficulty choosing between Mexican and Italian cuisine, EL Bistro Taco, 2257 S. Oneida St, might be the solution. Only a three minute drive from the mall, the restaurant is a fusion of the two cuisines as well as salads and sandwiches. Choose from Italian classic meals like ravioli, Alfredo, and lasagna or explore the traditional Mexican menu, which features tacos and fajitas.

Continuing the theme of authentic Mexican food, El Sarape West, 2615 S. Oneida St., is only two minutes from Bay Park Square. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients for its traditional Mexican recipes, which include tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, sopes and even a small breakfast menu.

Sammy's Pizza and Italian Restaurant, 2161 S. Oneida St., is a three-minute drive away and is a great, nearby spot for a quick slice of authentic pizza or pasta dish. It's been in Green Bay since 1959 and uses family recipes dating back to 1958. Chase your meal with a local craft beer or popular on-tap brands or choose from a list of wine popular wine brands.

And if you're looking for some quick eating options, The Booyah Shed, 1800 S. Ashland Ave., is only six minutes from the shopping center and offers a menu full of homemade food. Besides their signature dish, homemade chicken booyah, a Belgian soup that has become a staple in northeastern Wisconsin, the restaurant also serves burgers, steak sandwiches, wraps, hot dogs, flatbreads and so much more.

Reach Jelissa Burns at 920-453-5107 or jburns1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @burns_jelissa or on Instagram at burns_jelissa.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Local restaurants near the Broadway District and Bay Park Square in Green Bay