Menomonee Falls business owners make a big impact in their community.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) — Here at CBS 58, we often talk about what makes our hometown special.

And when it comes down to it, the problem is often people.

Robin Manke’s family has lived in Menomonee Falls for more than a century.

She has spent most of her life there and is dedicated to making it a better place.

Her store, Robin’s Nest, is filled with the latest fashion.

“As much as possible, it’s artisan-made. We try to focus on American-made clothing,” Manke said.

However, its history goes back a long way. Manke opened his store in 1982, when it was located next door to his father’s store.

“This is a photo of Dan’s Tog Shop,” she said, pointing to the photo. “We are one of the oldest, continuous businesses in Menomonee Falls.”

The location facing the main street is also a vestige.

“My great-great-grandfather, Mr. Fay, built this building in 1896,” she said.

With family history dating back to the 1890s, it’s no wonder Mr. Mahnke is so passionate about Menomonee Falls.

“This is a wonderful place to live,” she said.

Mr. Manke made a major contribution to that. She worked at Menomonee Falls Food Her Pantry and taught Sunday school for 50 years.

“I tend to excel behind the scenes rather than on the front lines,” she says modestly.

That’s why we had to turn to our lifelong friend Molly Paulus.

“That wasn’t her favorite thing to do,” Paulus laughed in our interview.

She said Manke’s most recent honor was a lifetime achievement award from the Greater Menomonee Falls Foundation.

“She deserves it because of what she’s done for the community,” Paulus said.

According to Manke, business in the village has really taken off over the past few years.

“It took a while to get it off the ground, but we’re at our destination now. We have an art gallery and we have a gift shop,” she said.

Village Park has been significantly improved with new restaurants and bars.

Manke is committed to keeping downtown a vibrant place well into the future.

“And it’s just fun,” she said. “It’s a nice place.”

Manke has no plans to retire at this time.

She was quick to tell us about all the festivals and events happening downtown.

You can find the list here.

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