Popular fair stand taking its curds away
Posted: April 23, 2017 - 4:00am

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A popular cheese curds stand at the Minnesota State Fair is shutting down after more than 40 years because the couple running the shop is retiring.
Dick and Donna Mueller, along with business partner Audrey Skarda, are retiring after running the Original Deep Fried Cheese Curds stand at the state fair since 1975, the St. Paul Pioneer Press (http://bit.ly/2oPv75h) reported.
"We're all 80 years old," Dick Mueller said. "We're looking at 16- to 18-hour days and we just can't do it anymore."
Dick Mueller said the family was hoping that their son and daughter, Tom Mueller and Diane Pieper, could take over running the stand.
"They filled out paperwork, but the Fair didn't let any of them bid," Mueller said. "We've got 42 years of Minnesota history. Why wouldn't you keep it if you're making money and there's family there to pass on the tradition?"
State Fair general manager Jerry Hammer said talks with the owners about their retirement and the fate of the stand have been ongoing and that Dick Mueller never mentioned transferring ownership.
"Typically, commercial exhibitors who wish to transfer ownership to a business partner (or family member) will visit with State Fair staff about it," Hammer said. "Dick never had that conversation with us. Instead, his son filled out an application on March 6, 2016, but never pursued it further. We have no record of any interest from anyone's daughter."
Hammer said the state fair is still working to place the 2017 exhibitors and that it's too early to confirm what'll go in the structure until arrangements are final.