Before the Valley became a destination for jobs, trails, business growth, and investment, many saw it as a lost cause. Mick Hatch saw possibility. As a founding board member of Menomonee Valley Partners, he helped shape the transformation of one of Milwaukee’s most overlooked industrial corridors into the thriving district we know today.

Construction doesn’t just impact traffic patterns — it impacts the small businesses that help keep Milwaukee vibrant every day. That’s the idea behind Worth the Detour, a new monthly series highlighting businesses in the Valley and surrounding neighborhoods that continue to show up for the community through construction, change, and disruption.

New Menomonee River Valley building gets final city legislative approval. Cleared for development.