FOR HUB CITY TIMES

MARSHFIELD – Marshfield aldermen have finalized a developer’s agreement with the Weinbrenner Shoe Company allowing for a $14.5 million, 70,000-square-foot facility on approximately 15 acres in Mill Creek Business Park.  

With Alderman Andrew Reigel absent and Aldermen Ed Wagner and Rebecca Spiros abstaining from voting, the Common Council on Aug. 13 voted 7-0 in favor of the agreement. The company is expected to break ground next month. 

The facility is expected to create 35 new jobs for Weinbrenner, expanding on the 120 positions already in place. The new plant will be joining the likes of current Mill Creek residents Dental Crafters, Prevention Genetics and Hewitt Meats.  

“As a manufacturer of high-quality footwear and an exceptional employer, Weinbrenner has always been and continues to be a very important part of the Marshfield community,” said City Administrator Steve Barg, via a press release.    

Weinbrenner, founded in 1892, is one of the oldest shoe-manufacturing companies in the United States. It is best known for its Thorogood work boots.   

“We could not be prouder as a community to have partnered with Weinbrenner to assist with incentives to ensure this great local employer stays here in Marshfield and grows,” said Mayor Lois TeStrake. “Weinbrenner has employed hundreds of folks here in Marshfield over the years, and thankfully, with their large investment and commitment to stay right here, we will be able to celebrate hundreds more over the years,” TeStrake added. 

The company has selected Ellis Construction of Stevens Point to build the state-of-the-art facility along the business park’s Commerce Drive and just off US Highway 10. The facility is expected to open in late 2025, coinciding with the 90th anniversary of Weinbrenner Shoe Company producing work boots in Marshfield.

Ellis Construction designed the new building with a focus on employee health and productivity. The production floor will be modernized to accommodate equipment with safety and technology upgrades.

“We’re committed to investing in domestic manufacturing and take great pride in being a Wisconsin-based company. Breaking ground on this new facility isn’t just about increasing capacity—it’s about making Weinbrenner Shoe Company a great place to work. These expansions have enabled us to sustain growth and meet the rising demand for Thorogood footwear,” said Jeff Burns, president of Weinbrenner Shoe Company. “Several states tried to lure us away, but Wisconsin is our home.”

Ellis Construction, having served central Wisconsin for more than 90 years itself, is proud to work with Weinbrenner on this new chapter, using its expertise as a full-service construction company to design and build the new facility.

“As a locally-owned organization that prides itself on its employees being home every night, we know the importance of keeping jobs here in central Wisconsin. When Weinbrenner Shoe Company and the city of Marshfield invest in their local economy by keeping a major employer in the area and enabling it to enhance its safety and productivity, it lifts up the entire community,” said Andrew Halverson, executive vice president and co-owner of Ellis Construction. “We’re excited to break ground this fall and be a part of leaving a lasting landmark that will impact the Marshfield area for generations to come.”