Q. If my company wanted to make its initial entry into the Northeast Wisconsin market, where should we locate?
A. The Fox Cities are the center for commercial and retail activity for all of Northeast Wisconsin and much of Upper Michigan. Most retailers seeking an initial entry into this lucrative market - or those who seek to establish only one outlet - choose the Fox Cities. Some retailers like Barnes and Noble are have made the Fox Cities their first choice when entering the entire Wisconsin market. At any rate, it is generally agreed that the top three Wisconsin retail markets are Milwaukee, Madison and the Fox Cities.
Q. Exactly "what are the Fox Cities" and where are they located in Wisconsin?
A. The term "Fox Cities" is one that was coined by the local chamber of commerce and is somewhat confusing to those from outside of the area. The Fox Cities are a string of four cities, five villages and nine unincorporated towns lying along the Fox River in Northeast Wisconsin with a total population of approximately 193,420 people (1995 estimate). At the heart of the Fox Cities is Appleton (population 68,729) which is the largest and best known of the communities. Many of the surrounding communities carry Appleton addresses and zip codes. Other well known Fox Cities communities include Neenah, Menasha, Grand Chute, Kimberly, Kaukauna, etc.
In addition to a strong local market with a median household income of $40,179, the Fox Cities have become the center of retailing and commerce for all of Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
The Fox Cities are located about 35 miles South of Green Bay, 20 miles North of Oshkosh, 55 miles West of Sheboygan and 68 miles East of Stevens Point. Click on this map.
For more information click on our Fox Cities Demographics Page.
Q. Why have the Fox Cities become the dominant regional retail center of Northeast Wisconsin compared to, say, Green Bay or Oshkosh?
A. Location, location, location! The Fox Cities are located in the heart of the metroplex which extends roughly from the City of Oshkosh on the South to the City of Green Bay on the North. The combined population of this metroplex is roughly 550,000 people. The Fox Cities are in the heart of affluent, highly populated area.
The area North of Green Bay is sparsely populated. The area South of Oshkosh (or, perhaps more precisely, South of Fond du Lac) falls under the influence of Milwaukee. Although the Fox Cities dominate as the regional retailing area, great retailing opportunities also abound in cities such as Green Bay and Oshkosh.
The Fox Cities are easily assessable from all directions and have become the retailing and entertainment center for all of Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
Q. What parts of the Fox Cities are the "hot" retailing areas?
A. Clearly, the dominant regional retail area is the neighborhood around the Fox River Mall. For complete information, see our Fox River Mall Area information page.
Downtown Appleton
is a flourishing retail and entertainment district. It is a healthy Central Business District which houses both the City of Appleton and Outagamie County administrative offices. The 400 room
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel and Convention Center anchors the downtown and brings thousands of tourists to the community each year.
