About Appleton Awning Shop Inc

During World War 2, Appleton Awning Shop made many items for our military from canteen covers to artillery belts. Some of these items can still be found in used military outlet stores. After the war, Appleton Awning Shop continued its growth in the awning and custom canvas business. We expanded and diversified to match the ever-growing needs of our customers. Today, we are a major material supplier to one of the biggest fire truck builders in the nation. Supplying individual homes and businesses with high-quality shade options is still a high priority and focus. We also supply the manufacturing industry with tarps, curtains, dust collection filters, etc. We also do an extensive repair business from repairing zippers in jackets, repairing tents, and other material repairs. As our motto states: If it's made of canvas, we can repair or make it.

The shop originally started at 200 N. Richmond St. in Appleton. It was a 4,000 sq. ft building which served the company well for many years. As the products and services grew, the Appleton Awning Shop Inc. also grew physically. In 1992, under the ownership of David Dorschner, the business moved to an 8,000 sq. ft. building. This building serves as the company’s present location at 3052 W. Elberg Ave. 

In 1997, David Dorschner decided that it was time to step back a bit. He sold the business to his son Mike Dorschner, and son-in-law Mark Matz. These two have been growing the business and expanding products for over 25 years.

As the business kept growing, we soon realized that we needed more space for storage. In 2000, we contracted with consolidated construction to build a 6,000 sq. ft. warehouse facility, complete with a loading dock. 

The company continued to grow and needed more employees, more room for production, and cleaner working space. In July of 2015, we purchased the property next door at 3080 W. Elberg Ave. We were able to move our frame and metal fabrication shop into that 4,000 sq. ft. building. With the purchase of that property, it also gave us one acre of fenced-in area for storage. This provided us with a safe storage location for boats being dropped off to get covers made. 

Not only was production continually growing, but the office staff needed additional room as well. In the early spring of 2017, we expanded the office area. This expansion meant that for the first time, the owners Mark and Mike, have their own offices.