Brookfield Laacke & Joys to Renovate, Merge Stores

Laacke & Joys plans to renovate its Brookfield store and move its downtown Milwaukee and Mequon stores into Brookfield by January 2014, the BizTimes reported Friday.

The Brookfield location is at 19233 W. Bluemound Rd., not far from the planned new redevelopment dubbed The Corners, proposed to be anchored by the state's first Von Maur department store.

Both the Mequon and Milwaukee retail stores and the company's Milwaukee manufacturing operations would consolidate at the new flagship Brookfield site for the company founded in 1844, said the Biz Times, which detailed the planned renovations.

Laacke & Joys' move from Milwaukee marks the end of a 168-year downtown tradition that once included outfitting of commercial sailing ships, JSOnline reported. 

Company president Marsha Mather said in a news release: "My husband and I have owned Laacke & Joys for seventeen years and continue to alter the business to meet the demands of our customers. We are devoted to staying ahead of trends and want to make changes that will continue the 168-year history of this great company."